Proteins and immunizing compositions containing Pasteurella proteins and methods of use

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides isolated proteins isolatable from a Pasteurella spp. such as P. multocida. Also provided by the present invention are compositions that include one or more of the proteins, and methods for making and methods for using the proteins.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/484,332, filed Aug. 7, 2019 and which is a § 371 U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/US2018/017682, filed 9 Feb. 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/457,599, filed Feb. 10, 2017, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

SEQUENCE LISTING

This application contains a Sequence Listing electronically submitted via EFS-Web to the United States Patent and Trademark Office as an ASCII text file entitled “29300560201_SequenceListing_ST25.txt” having a size of 348 kilobytes and created on Apr. 11, 2018. The information contained in the Sequence Listing is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Pasteurella spp. are gram negative, facultatively anaerobic and pleomorphically rod shaped bacteria able to cause disease in a variety of animals as well as humans. Species of Pasteurella in domestic and wild animals have evolved a particular niche for mucosal membranes of the upper respiratory, mucosa of the oral cavity and lower genital tract. In farm animals, diseases are based on clinical symptoms and on the particular Pasteurella specie associated with disease. Today Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica are the two most widely recognized species of the Pasteurellaceae family associated with clinical disease in animal husbandry with particular reference to poultry, cattle, pigs and rabbits. The family Pasteurellaceae currently comprises five genera; Pasteurella, Mannheimia, Actinobacillus, Haemophilus, and Lonepinella and have been the subject of extensive reclassification (Angen et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 49: 67-86 (1999). Recently Pasteurella haemolytica has been taxonomically reclassified as Mannheimia haemolytica based on ribosomal sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization (Oystein et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 49:6-86 (1999).

Pasteurella multocida is the etiological agent of avian pasteurellosis, commonly referred to as fowl cholera, a widely distributed and economically important disease of poultry, having a high incidence in chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks (Rhoades et al. Fowl Cholera. In: Adlam, C. F. and Rutter, J. M. (Eds.), Pasteurella and Pasteurellosis. Academic Press, London, pp. 95-113. 1989). The organism is also responsible for inducing clinical disease in wild birds, commercially raised game birds and Psittacines (Rhoades and Rimler, 1989, Fowl cholera. In Pasteurella and Pasteurellosis, pp. 95-113. Edited by C. F. Adlam & J. M. Rutter. London: Academic Press). All species of birds are susceptible to varying degrees. Heavy breeds appear more susceptible than light breeds, and adult birds and those in late growing phase appear more susceptible than younger birds (Jordan et al. Poultry Diseases. Ballierre Tindall, London, pp 42-50. 1990.). Four capsular serogroups (A, B, D and F) are recognized among avian strains of Pasteurella multocida (Rhoades et al. Avian Dis. 31: 895-898 (1987). In domestic poultry, strains belonging to capsular type A are recognized as the primary agent of pasteurellosis (Rhoades and Rimler, 1987, Avian Dis 31, 895-898; Rhoades et al. Fowl Cholera. In: Adlam, C. F. and Rutter, J. M. (Eds.), Pasteurella and Pasteurellosis. Academic Press, London, pp. 95-113. 1989; Wilson et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. 31: 255-259 1993)). It has been shown that avian strains of Pasteurella multocida are genetically diverse as demonstrated by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and DNA-DNA hybridization. Based on these findings P. multocida has now been subdivided into three subspecies, multocida, septica and gallicida.

The pathogenesis of P. multocida is poorly understood but is dependent on both host and pathogen specific factors. To date no single virulence factor has been associated with disease among strains. Virulence factors that have been studied to date include; capsule, endotoxin, outer membrane proteins, serum resistance, iron-acquisition systems, heat shock proteins, neuraminidase production, adhesion factors, antibody cleaving enzymes and the potential existence of cytopathic toxins.

Clinical manifestation of disease may range from peracute/acute to chronic infections, and may initially arise by the colonization of the upper respiratory tract, followed by invasion and septicaemia. During acute infections, few clinical signs are observed before death which is generally dominated by septicaemic lesions. In chronic forms of P. multocida infections, suppurative lesions may be widely distributed involving the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, the pharynx, nasal passages, conjunctiva and adjacent tissues of the head.

Because of the ubiquitous nature of P. multocida, and the potential for great economic loss, commercial vaccines have been developed to protect against outbreaks of Fowl cholera in layer and breeder broiler operations throughout the US and abroad. Inactivated commercial Fowl cholera vaccines currently available rely on somatic serotypes to offer protection. Most inactivated vaccines contain, at a minimum, Pasteurella multocida strains of serotype 1 (also referred to as A:1), serotype 3 (also referred to as A:3), and serotype 4 (also referred to as A:4). Fowl cholera vaccines made with one serotype do not cross protect against other serotypes, e.g., a vaccine made using a serotype 1 strain does not protect against serotypes 3 or 4.

The ability of Pasteurella multocida to evade the natural defense mechanisms of the vertebrate host depends in part on its ability to obtain host iron, which in turn, directly influences the host-pathogen interaction. Because of iron's essential nature, vertebrate hosts have developed elaborate mechanisms to bind iron in body fluids (e.g., transferrin in blood and lymph fluids and lactoferrin in external secretions). These high affinity iron binding proteins create an iron restricted environment within the host, reducing the level of iron to approximately 10⁻¹⁸ molar, a concentration too low to support the growth of nearly all bacteria. These iron sequestering mechanisms of the host act as a natural defense mechanism to combat bacterial invasion. To circumvent these iron-restrictive conditions many bacterial species have evolved mechanisms for obtaining iron. The most common mechanisms include the diffusion of soluble iron through porins and specialized transport systems that mediate the uptake of iron by siderophores. This latter system is one of the most common and well-studied mechanisms for iron acquisition and involves the specific chelation of ferric iron by siderophores and the synthesis of their cognate transport systems, which permits the bacteria to continue to replicate and overcome the non-specific defense mechanisms of the host. Continued replication, and thus each step in the infectious process, is ultimately dependent on the ability of the organism to obtain iron from its host.

Divalent metal ions such as iron, cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, and zinc are trace elements often required for the survival of bacteria infecting both animal and human hosts. These trace metal elements are used by bacteria as cofactors for enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions for various metabolic pathways required by the organism. The impact of iron on the pathogenesis of bacteria has been studied extensively. Iron is essential for nearly all life and is required for enzymatic and metabolic pathways of organisms at all phylogenic levels. It has been well-documented that during bacterial sepsis there is an alteration in the concentration of a number of metal ions in serum such as, iron, copper, and zinc. For instance, serum levels of zinc decrease from 10 percent to 60 percent with the onset of infection. Following the onset of infection, zinc is then redistributed from plasma to liver where it is bound to metallothionein. Decreases in serum iron of up to 50 percent have been described during infectious illness, whereas serum copper has been shown to increase in response to inflammatory stimuli. The alteration of these trace metal ions in serum may directly affect the severity or progression of any bacterial infection.

With so many basic functions relying on the availability of iron, bacteria have evolved a complex regulatory network for acquiring iron under varying physiological conditions. Under anaerobic conditions, iron is present in the soluble ferrous form (Fe II) and can freely diffuse through outer membrane porins into the periplasm. For instance, in E. coli the FeoAB transport system present in the cytoplasmic membrane will transport the ferrous iron molecules into the cell cytoplasm. Under aerobic conditions and neutral pH, iron is primarily present in the insoluble ferric form (Fe III) and cannot pass through the outer membrane porins by passive diffusion. Instead, molecules called siderophores are secreted by bacteria, which have a high affinity for ferric iron. The ferric-siderophore complexes are recognized by receptors in the outer membrane collectively referred to as the TonB-dependent receptors. These receptors, once bound to loaded siderophores, are believed to interact with TonB and its associated proteins localized in the periplasm and cytoplasmic membrane. These protein-protein interactions, though poorly understood, serve to provide the energy necessary to transport the ferric-siderophore complexes across the outer membrane and through the periplasmic space. ABC transport systems present in the cytoplasmic membrane serve to transport the iron-siderophore complexes across the cytoplasmic membrane. Reductase enzymes reduce the ferric iron to its ferrous form, which dissociates it from the siderophore and releases iron into the cell.

Several species of pathogenic bacteria use additional mechanisms to obtain iron from mammalian hosts, including the direct binding of transferrin, heme, and other heme-containing compounds. The receptor proteins that bind these iron-containing molecules most likely rely on the TonB complex for the energy required to transport heme across the outer membrane, similar to the iron-siderophore complexes. Specialized ABC transporters are then used to transport the heme across the cytoplasmic membrane. In addition, some bacteria secrete hemophores, small molecules that can bind heme and present it to receptors on the bacterial cell surface. Several pathogenic species also produce hemolysins, which are toxins that lyse red blood cells, releasing heme and hemoglobin for uptake by the bacteria.

The outer membrane proteins of gram-negative bacteria control the selective permeability of many essential nutrients critical to the survival of bacteria, including all pathogenic bacteria that cause disease in animals and man. This selective permeability of nutrients is controlled by a class of membrane proteins called porins. It now appears that the majority of the outer membrane proteins on the surface of gram-negative bacteria are porins, identified as the general porins (e.g., OmpF), monomeric porins (e.g., OmpA), the specific porins (e.g., the maltose-specific porin LamB) and the TonB-dependent, gated porins (e.g., the siderophore receptor FepA). The porin class of proteins generally share structural features, including the presence of beta-barrels that span the outer membrane.

Beyond the role of iron as an essential nutrient for microbial survival, there are now many other well-defined transitional metals that play critical roles in bacterial survival, homeostasis, and pathogenesis such as iron, manganese, copper, zinc, magnesium, cobalt, and nickel (Waldron and Robinson and 2009; Porcheron; 2013). Iron, zinc and copper are the three most abundant divalent metal ions in mammals in descending order of concentration. The ability of a bacterium to utilize these transitional metals by finely regulated uptake or acquisition systems significantly contributes to the virulence of pathogenic bacteria. It is well known that bacteria within the same genus/species do not have the same uptake systems for the acquisition of transitional metals owing to the difference in pathogenicity from one strain of bacteria to another. These differences in the ability of bacteria to use different transitional metals based on expressed uptake systems may specifically direct what organ or tissue an organism can invade.

Little is known regarding the iron-acquisition by Pasteurella multocida; it has not been studied nearly to the extent of E. coli iron transport systems. The iron regulated proteins of Pasteurella have been investigated as potential immunogens as target antigens for different vaccine strategies in multiple animal species. It has been shown that these proteins provide protective efficacy against homologous challenge yet a combination of these proteins to provide heterologous protection has eluded researchers.

Glisson et al. (Avian Diseases 37:1074-1079, 1993) attempted to induce cross-protection across serotypes by preparing bacterins from P. multocida strains X-73 (serotype 1) and P-1059 (serotype 3) under iron-restricted culture conditions. They found that bacterins produced in medium low in iron did not consistently induce significant protection against heterologous challenge.

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION

We observed results similar to Glisson when growing two heterologous strains, one of serotype 3×4 and one of serotype 1, in iron-restricted medium and attempting a vaccination and challenge model with one strain as vaccine strain and the other as challenge strain (see Examples 6-9), i.e., some protection was observed when the vaccine and the challenge were different serotypes. However, when we compared field strains of pathogenic Pasteurella multocida, and particularly when we compared the patterns of metal regulated proteins present in these strains, we found two major patterns of metal regulated proteins predominate in these pathogenic strains. One pattern contains 2 or 3 major metal regulated proteins, and the other pattern contains 4 distinct metal regulated proteins. When the metal regulated proteins of these two pattern types were obtained from two P. multocida strains, one of serotype 2,5 and one of serotype 3,4, and combined and used to vaccinate animals, we observed heterologous protection across serotypes of P. multocida, including protection against a P. multocida of another serotype not represented in the two strains used to make the vaccine. This result was unexpected and surprising. We are not aware of any reports of this type of heterologous protection being observed in vaccines that protect against P. multocida infection.

Provided herein are compositions. In one embodiment, a composition includes an isolated protein having at least 80% similarity to amino acids 25-968 of SEQ ID NO:2, an isolated protein having at least 80% similarity to amino acids 27-790 of SEQ ID NO:4, an isolated protein having at least 80% similarity to amino acids 23-727 of SEQ ID NO:6, an isolated protein having at least 80% similarity to amino acids 25-964 of SEQ ID NO:8, an isolated protein having at least 80% similarity to amino acids 26-848 of SEQ ID NO:10, an isolated protein having at least 80% similarity to amino acids 27-784 of SEQ ID NO:12, an isolated protein having at least 80% similarity to amino acids 25-742 SEQ ID NO:14, an isolated protein having at least 80% similarity to amino acids 26-805 of SEQ ID NO:44, or a combination thereof. The composition protects an animal, such as a chicken, against challenge with Pasteurella multocida.

In another embodiment, a composition includes isolated proteins having molecular weights of 99 kDa, 81 kDa, and 80 kDa where the proteins are isolatable from a Pasteurella multocida when incubated in media that includes an iron chelator and not isolatable when grown in the media without the iron chelator, isolated proteins having molecular weights of 109 kDa, 89 kDa, and 87 kDa wherein the proteins are isolatable from a P. multocida when incubated in media comprising an iron chelator, where the proteins are expressed by the P. multocida when incubated in media without the iron chelator and expressed at an enhanced level during growth in media that includes an iron chelator. The composition protects an animal, such as a chicken, against challenge with P. multocida.

In one embodiment, a includes an isolated protein having at least 80% similarity to amino acids 26-805 of SEQ ID NO:44, wherein the composition protects a chicken against challenge with P. multocida.

A composition described herein can optionally include additional proteins, such as at least one isolated protein having a molecular weight of 249 kDa, 60 kDa, 42 kDa, 38 kDa, 27 kDa, 26 kDa, or 22 kDa, wherein the proteins are isolatable from the P. multocida.

In one embodiment, a composition includes an isolated whole cell that includes at least one of the proteins of a composition described herein. The composition protects an animal, such as a chicken, against challenge with Pasteurella multocida. In one embodiment, the whole cell is a cell engineered to express one or more of the proteins. In one embodiment, the cell is E. coli. Further provided is a composition that includes isolated antibody that specifically binds to a protein of a composition described herein. In one embodiment, the antibody is polyclonal antibody.

A composition described herein can further include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, an adjuvant, or a combination thereof.

Also provided are methods. In one embodiment, a method includes administering to a subject an amount of a composition described herein effective to induce the subject to produce antibody that specifically binds to at least one protein of the composition. In one embodiment, a method is for treating an infection in a subject, and includes administering an effective amount of the composition described herein to a subject having or at risk of having an infection caused by a P. multocida. In one embodiment, a method is for treating a symptom in a subject, and includes administering an effective amount of a composition described herein to a subject having or at risk of having an infection caused by a P. multocida. In one embodiment, a method is for decreasing colonization in a subject, and includes administering an effective amount of a composition described herein to a subject colonized by a P. multocida. In one embodiment, a method is for treating an infection in a subject, and includes administering an effective amount of a composition to a subject having or at risk of having an infection caused by a P. multocida wherein the composition includes antibody that specifically binds to a protein of a composition described herein. In one embodiment, a method is for treating a symptom in a subject, and includes administering an effective amount of a composition to a subject having or at risk of having an infection caused by a P. multocida., wherein the composition that includes antibody that specifically binds to a protein of a composition described herein. In one embodiment, a method is for decreasing colonization in a subject, and includes administering an effective amount of a composition to a subject colonized by a P. multocida., wherein the composition that includes antibody that specifically binds to a protein a composition described herein.

In one embodiment, the subject can be a mammal, such as a bovine, or an avian, such as a chicken or a turkey. In one embodiment, at least 700 micrograms (μg) to no greater than 1,200 μg of protein is administered.

Also provided are kits. In one embodiment, a kit is for detecting antibody that specifically binds a protein, and includes in separate containers (i) an isolated protein of the composition of claim 1 or 2, and (ii) a reagent that detects an antibody that specifically binds the protein. In one embodiment, a kit is for detecting a protein, and includes in separate containers (i) an antibody that specifically binds an isolated protein of a composition described herein, and a second reagent that specifically binds the protein.

The term “and/or” means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

The words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention.

The terms “comprises” and variations thereof do not have a limiting meaning where these terms appear in the description and claims. It is understood that wherever embodiments are described herein with the language “include,” “includes,” or “including,” and the like, otherwise analogous embodiments described in terms of “consisting of” and/or “consisting essentially of” are also provided.

Unless otherwise specified, “a,” “an,” “the,” and “at least one” are used interchangeably and mean one or more than one.

Also herein, the recitations of numerical ranges by endpoints include all numbers subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc.).

For any method disclosed herein that includes discrete steps, the steps may be conducted in any feasible order. And, as appropriate, any combination of two or more steps may be conducted simultaneously.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The description that follows more particularly exemplifies illustrative embodiments. In several places throughout the application, guidance is provided through lists of examples, which examples can be used in various combinations. In each instance, the recited list serves only as a representative group and should not be interpreted as an exclusive list.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 . SDS-PAGE gel of extract of bacteria grown under iron limiting and iron replete conditions. Lanes 1 and 10: Broad range molecular weight markers; Lane 2: Vaccine candidate MS061130 under iron restriction; Lane 3: Vaccine candidate strain under iron replete conditions. Lane 4: serotype 1 reference strain X-73 under iron limited conditions. Lane 5: X-73 under iron replete conditions. Lane 6: Serotype 3 reference strain P1059 under iron limiting conditions. Lane 7: P1059 under iron replete conditions. Lane 8: reference strain P-1662 under iron limiting conditions; lane 9: P-1662 under iron replete conditions. Note the similar molecular weights of the iron-regulated proteins as depicted within the rectangle.

FIG. 2 . Efficacy of three Pasteurella multocida vaccine serials produced from a single strain against challenge with heterologous Pasteurella serotype 1. Three vaccine serials consisting of the same antigen were prepared from the Master Seed MS061130. Note: two antigen preparation representing two separate fermentation processes were used to prepare two antigen lots designated as antigen A and antigen B. The first vaccine serial was prepared using a mixture of antigen A and antigen B, the second vaccine serial was prepared only using antigen A, and the third vaccine serial was prepared using only antigen B.

FIG. 3 . Table of proteins known to be in the reference challenge strains for serotype A:1 and serotype A:3 compared to the vaccine strain. Note the 8 proteins present in at least one of the reference strain genomes, but absent from the vaccine strain.

FIG. 4 . Venn diagram illustrating outer membrane proteins missing from the vaccine strain (MS061130). Numbers correlate to the protein identification numbers of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 . Dendogram of metal regulated protein banding patterns of 30+ clinical field isolates and reference strains of Pasteurella multocida. Note the two major banding patterns as depicted as a four band pattern in brackets[ ], and a three band pattern in braces{ }. Most other strains appear to be variations on these two patterns.

FIG. 6 . Comparison of 38 expressed iron regulated proteins of 13 different isolates representing pattern types of FIG. 5 . (+) indicates the protein is expressed, and (−) indicates the protein is not expressed at detectable levels. The ellipse identifies two potential vaccine targets that cover the majority of proteins.

FIG. 7 . Vaccine efficacy using a vaccine composed of two Master seed strains challenged with Pasteurella serotype 1 in chickens showing heterologous protection.

FIGS. 8-1, 8-2, 9-1, 9-2, 10-1, 10-2, 11-1, 11-2, 12-1, 12-2, 13 -1, 13-2, 14-1 and 14-2. The amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, and an example of a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13, respectively) encoding each amino acid sequence.

FIGS. 15-1 and 15-2 . Sequence alignment of SEQ ID NO:2 and four other sequences. WP 053521090.1 (SEQ ID NO:15), 1121_HgbA_968aa (SEQ ID NO:2), WP_005756141.1 (SEQ ID NO:16), AAQ14873.1 (SEQ ID NO:17), WP_061405928.1 (SEQ ID NO:18). All sequences are P. multocida, except WP 053521090.1 which is Haemophilus influenzae.

FIGS. 16-1 and 16-2 . Sequence alignment of SEQ ID NO:4 and four other sequences. ESQ71136.1 (SEQ ID NO:19), WP_014391205.1 (SEQ ID NO:20), WP_016534044.1 (SEQ ID NO:21), 1121_FepA_790aa (SEQ ID NO:4), WP_005756883.1 (SEQ ID NO:22). All sequences are P. multocida.

FIGS. 17-1 and 17-2 . Sequence alignment of SEQ ID NO:6 and four other sequences. WP_071522773.1 (SEQ ID NO:23), WP_016534444.1 (SEQ ID NO:24), WP_005755819.1(SEQ ID NO:25), 1121_PfhR_727aa (SEQ ID NO:6), EGP05580.1 (SEQ ID NO:26). All sequences are P. multocida.

FIGS. 18-1, 18-2 and 18-3 . Sequence alignment of SEQ ID NO:8 and five other sequences. 1135_PM0300_964aa (SEQ ID NO:8), WP_005753642.1 (SEQ ID NO:27), WP_016534557.1 (SEQ ID NO:28), WP_010906573.1 (SEQ ID NO:29), AAQ14873.1 (SEQ ID NO:30), 1121_HgbA_968aa (SEQ ID NO:2). All sequences are P. multocida.

FIGS. 19-1 and 19-2 . Sequence alignment of SEQ ID NO:10 and four other sequences. WP_017861186.1 (SEQ ID NO:31), AAU29202.1 (SEQ ID NO:32), EGP04511.1 (SEQ ID NO:33), 1135_HasR_848aa (SEQ ID NO:10), WP_005752163.1 (SEQ ID NO:34). All sequences are P. multocida.

FIGS. 20-1 and 20-2 . Sequence alignment of SEQ ID NO:12 and four other sequences. WP_005751557.1 (SEQ ID NO:35), 1135_PM0741_784aa (SEQ ID NO:12), WP_016534554.1 (SEQ ID NO:36), WP_064972816.1 (SEQ ID NO:37), WP_074865020.1 (SEQ ID NO:38). All sequences are P. multocida.

FIGS. 21-1 and 21-2 . Sequence alignment of SEQ ID NO:14 and four other sequences. WP_050948957.1 (SEQ ID NO:39), WP_014391043.1 (SEQ ID NO:40), WP_016533738.1 (SEQ ID NO:41), 1135_P1062_0207600_742aa (SEQ ID NO:14), WP_025248456.1 (SEQ ID NO:42). All sequences are P. multocida, except WP_050948957.1 which is Haemophilus influenzae.

FIGS. 22-1 and 22-2 . The amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:44 and an example of a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:43) encoding the amino acid sequence. The first 78 nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:43 are predicted to encode the signal sequence of SEQ ID NO:44 (amino acids 1-26).

FIG. 23 . The percent survival of chickens challenged with Pasteurella multocida comparing a recombinant zinc (rZinc) protein to SRP extract. The results clearly show the efficacy of both the Pasteurella multocida SRP extract and the rZinc protein compared to non-vaccinated Placebo controls.

FIG. 24 . Gel image showing the inclusion body preparation of Pasteurella multocida recombinant zinc acquisition protein. Lane 1: Un-Induced Whole Cell, lane 2: Induced Whole Cell, Lane 3: Lysed Cell Supernatant, Lane 4: 1× Bugbuster Wash, L:ane 5: 1/10× Bugbuster Wash, Lane 6: TBW Wash, Lane 7: Solubilized Inclusion Bodies and Lane 8: Pellet Post Solubilization showing the recombinant protein with a molecular weight of 90.85 kDa.

FIG. 25 . Sequence alignment of the zinc affinity region of zinc acquisition proteins from Mannheimia haemolytica (ZAP, SEQ ID NO:45) and 10 other respiratory pathogens. AHG81836.1 (SEQ ID NO:46), WP_005612269.1 (SEQ ID NO:47), WP_027074597.1 (SEQ ID NO:48), AHG73391.1 (SEQ ID NO:49), WP_021114857.1 (SEQ ID NO:50), WP_026212957.1 (SEQ ID NO:51), WP_028858792.1 (SEQ ID NO:52), WP_016534590.1 (SEQ ID NO:53), KDN24548.1 (SEQ ID NO:54), and WP_027021676.1 (SEQ ID NO:55).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In one aspect, this disclosure provides proteins and compositions including proteins. As used herein, “protein” refers to a polymer of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Thus, for example, the terms peptide, oligopeptide, polypeptide, and enzyme are included within the definition of protein. This term also includes proteins that may include one or more post-expression modifications of the protein such as, for example, a glycosylation, an acetylation, a phosphorylation, and the like. The term protein does not connote a specific length of a polymer of amino acids. A protein may be isolatable directly from a natural source or can be prepared with the aid of recombinant, enzymatic, or chemical techniques. In the case of a protein that is naturally occurring, such a protein is typically isolated.

An “isolated” protein is one that has been removed from its natural environment. For instance, an isolated protein is a protein that has been removed from the cytoplasm or from the membrane of a cell, and many of the proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular material of its natural environment are no longer present.

A protein characterized as “isolatable” from a particular source is a protein that, under appropriate conditions, is produced by the identified source, although the protein may be obtained from alternate sources using, for example, conventional recombinant, chemical, or enzymatic techniques. Thus, characterizing a protein as “isolatable” from a particular source does not imply any specific source from which the protein must be obtained or any particular conditions or processes under which the protein must be obtained.

A “purified” protein is one that is at least 60% free, preferably at least 75% free, and most preferably at least 90% free from other components with which they are naturally associated. Proteins that are produced outside the organism in which they naturally occur, e.g., through chemical or recombinant means, are considered to be isolated and purified by definition, since they were never present in a natural environment.

Generally, a protein may be characterized by molecular weight, amino acid sequence, mass fingerprint, nucleic acid that encodes the protein, immunological activity, or any combination of two or more such characteristics. The molecular weight of a protein, typically expressed in kilodaltons (kDa), can be determined using routine methods including, for instance, gel filtration, gel electrophoresis including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography (including HPLC), and calculating the molecular weight from an observed or predicted amino acid sequence. Unless indicated otherwise, reference to molecular weight refers to molecular weight as determined by resolving a protein using an SDS polyacrylamide gel having a stacking gel of about 4% and a resolving gel of about 10% under reducing and denaturing conditions. In one embodiment, the molecular weight of a protein identified by SDS-PAGE includes molecular weights of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 kDa above and below the stated value.

The proteins described herein may be metal-regulated. As used herein, a “metal-regulated protein” is a protein that is expressed by a microbe at a greater level when the microbe is grown in low metal conditions compared to when the same microbe is grown in high metal conditions. Low metal and high metal conditions are described herein. For instance, certain metal-regulated proteins produced by P. multocida are not expressed at detectable levels during growth of the microbe in high metal conditions but are expressed at detectable levels during growth in low metal conditions. In one embodiment, a metal-regulated protein can be a siderophore receptor protein. Examples of metal-regulated proteins isolatable from a P. multocida after growth in low iron conditions include metal-regulated proteins having molecular weights of 104 kDa to 75 kDa. Specific examples of metal-regulated proteins isolatable from a P. multocida after growth in low iron conditions include proteins of 99 kDa, 81 kDa, and 80 kDa as determined by resolving a protein using an SDS polyacrylamide gel having a stacking gel of about 4% and a resolving gel of about 10% under reducing and denaturing conditions. In one embodiment, a low iron conditions is growth in the presence of 2,2′-dipyridyl. Examples of the iron regulated proteins having molecular weights of 99 kDa, 81 kDa, and 80 kDa, and nucleotide sequences encoding the proteins, are shown in FIGS. 10, 14-1 and 14-2 , and 6, respectively. A specific example of metal-regulated proteins isolatable from a P. multocida after growth in low zinc conditions include a protein of 91 kDa as determined by resolving a protein using an SDS polyacrylamide gel having a stacking gel of about 4% and a resolving gel of about 10% under reducing and denaturing conditions. In one embodiment, a low zinc conditions is growth in the presence of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis Mo.). An example of the zinc regulated protein having a molecular weight of 91 kDa, and nucleotide sequences encoding the protein, is shown in FIG. 22 .

The proteins described herein may be expressed at detectable levels during growth of the microbe in high metal conditions but expressed at higher levels during growth in low metal conditions. The expression of such proteins is referred to herein as “enhanced” during growth in low metal conditions. Typically, the increase in expression of a protein during growth in low metal conditions is between 50% and 500% compared to the expression of the protein during growth in high metal conditions.

Examples of metal-regulated proteins having enhanced expression and isolatable from P. multocida after growth in low iron conditions include metal-regulated proteins having molecular weights of and 114 kDa to 82 kDa. Specific examples of metal-regulated proteins isolatable from a P. multocida after growth in low iron conditions include proteins of 109 kDa, 89 kDa, and 87 kDa as determined by resolving a protein using an SDS polyacrylamide gel having a stacking gel of about 4% and a resolving gel of about 10% under reducing and denaturing conditions. Examples of the proteins having molecular weights of 109 kDa and nucleotide sequences encoding them are shown in FIGS. 8 and 11 . Examples of the proteins having molecular weights of 89 kDa and 87 kDa, and nucleotide sequences encoding the proteins, are shown in FIGS. 13 and 9 , respectively.

This disclosure also describes certain proteins that are not metal-regulated. Such proteins are expressed in the presence of a metal ion such as, for example, in the presence of ferric chloride, and also expressed when grown in low iron conditions. Examples of this type of protein isolatable from P. multocida have molecular weights of 254 kDa to 244 kDa, 65 kDa to 55 kDa, and 47 kDa to 17 kDa. Examples of molecular weights of this type of protein include 249 kDa, 60 kDa, 42 kDa, 38 kDa, 27 kDa, 26 kDa, and 22 kDa. Additional examples of proteins include recombinantly-produced versions of proteins described herein. A recombinantly-produced protein may include the entire amino acid sequence translatable from an mRNA transcript. Alternatively, a recombinantly-produced protein can include a fragment of the entire translatable amino acid sequence. For example, a recombinantly-produced protein may lack a cleavable sequence at either terminus of the protein—e.g., a cleavable signal sequence at the amino terminus of the protein.

In one embodiment, a protein lacks one or more amino acids from the amino terminus of the protein encoded by a coding sequence obtained from a wild-type cell, e.g., the protein lacks a signal sequence. Thus, a fragment can lack at least one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, at least ten, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, at least 27, at least 28, at least 29, at least 30, at least 31, at least 32, at least 33, at least 34, at least 35, at least 36, at least 37, at least 38, at least 39, at least 40, at least 41, at least 42, at least 43, at least 44, at least 45, at least 46, at least 47, at least 48, at least 49, at least 50, at least 51, at least 52, at least 53, at least 54, at least 55, at least 56, at least 57, at least 58, at least 59, at least 60, at least 61, at least 62, or at least 63 amino acids from the amino terminus of the protein. In one embodiment, a fragment of the protein depicted at SEQ ID NO:2 does not include amino acids 1-24. In one embodiment, a fragment of the protein depicted at SEQ ID NO:4 does not include amino acids 1-26. In one embodiment, a fragment of the protein depicted at SEQ ID NO:6 does not include amino acids 1-22. In one embodiment, a fragment of the protein depicted at SEQ ID NO:8 does not include amino acids 1-24. In one embodiment, a fragment of the protein depicted at SEQ ID NO:10 does not include amino acids 1-25. In one embodiment, a fragment of the protein depicted at SEQ ID NO:12 does not include amino acids 1-26. In one embodiment, a fragment of the protein depicted at SEQ ID NO:14 does not include amino acids 1-24. In one embodiment, a fragment of the protein depicted at SEQ ID NO:44 does not include amino acids 1-26.

Whether a protein is a metal-regulated protein, an enhanced protein, or a non-metal-regulated protein can be determined by methods useful for comparing the presence of proteins, including, for example, gel filtration, gel electrophoresis including sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ), and liquid chromatography including HPLC. Separate cultures of a microbe can be grown under high metal conditions and under low metal conditions, proteins may be isolated as described herein, and the proteins present in each culture can be resolved and compared. Typically, an equal amount of proteins from each culture is used. In one embodiment, the proteins can be resolved using an SDS polyacrylamide gel having a stacking gel of about 4% and a resolving gel of about 10% under reducing and denaturing conditions. For instance, 30 micrograms (μg) of total protein from each culture may be used and loaded into wells of a gel. After running the gel and staining the proteins with Coomassie Brilliant Blue, the two lanes can be compared. When determining whether a protein is or is not expressed at a detectable level, 30 μg of total protein from a culture is resolved on an SDS-PAGE gel and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue using methods known in the art. A protein that can be visualized by eye is considered to be expressed at a detectable level, while a protein that cannot be visualized by eye is considered to not be expressed at a detectable level.

Alternatively, whether a protein is a metal-regulated protein or a non-metal-regulated protein can be determined using microarray-based gene expression analysis. Separate cultures of a microbe can be grown under high metal conditions and under low metal conditions, RNA can be extracted from cells of each culture, and differences in RNA expression in cells grown in high metal conditions versus RNA expression in cells grown in low metal conditions can be detected and compared. For example, labeled cDNA can be prepared from 8-10 μg of bacterial RNA using established protocols. The labeled cDNA can be applied to a microarray of a microbe's genome. Such microarrays are commercially available and evaluating gene expression using such arrays is routine.

The proteins described herein can have immunological activity. “Immunological activity” refers to the ability of a protein to elicit an immunological response in an animal. An immunological response to a protein is the development in an animal of a cellular and/or antibody-mediated immune response to the protein. Usually, an immunological response includes but is not limited to one or more of the following effects: the production of antibodies, B cells, helper T cells, suppressor T cells, and/or cytotoxic T cells, directed to an epitope or epitopes of the protein. “Epitope” refers to the site on an antigen to which specific B cells and/or T cells respond so that antibody is produced. The immunological activity may be protective. “Protective immunological activity” refers to the ability of a protein to elicit an immunological response in an animal that inhibits or limits infection by P. multocida. Whether a protein has protective immunological activity can be determined by methods known in the art such as, for example, methods described in Examples 6-9 and 15-16. A protein may have seroactive activity. As used herein, “seroactive activity” refers to the ability of a candidate protein to react with antibody present in convalescent serum from an animal infected with a P. multocida.

A protein as described herein may have the characteristics of a reference protein. The characteristics can include, for example, molecular weight, mass fingerprint, amino acid sequence, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, a protein can be obtained from a microbe. A microbe can express one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine of the proteins described herein. The reference protein can be isolatable from a gram negative microbe, preferably a member of the family Pasteurellaceae, including the genus Pasteurella, Mannheimia, or Haemophilus. A member of the genus Pasteurella Mannheimia, and Haemophilus is also referred to herein as Pasteurella spp., Mannheimia spp., and Haemophilus spp., respectively. In one embodiment, the reference protein is expressed by a P. multocida. In one embodiment, the P. multocida can be serotype 2,5 or serotype 3,4.

As used herein, a protein may be “structurally similar” to a reference protein if the amino acid sequence of the protein possesses a specified amount of sequence similarity and/or sequence identity compared to the reference protein. A protein also may be “structurally similar” to a reference protein if the protein exhibits a mass fingerprint possessing a specified amount of identity compared to a comparable mass fingerprint of the reference protein. Thus, a protein may be “structurally similar” to a reference protein if, compared to the reference protein, it possesses a sufficient level of amino acid sequence identity, amino acid sequence similarity, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, a protein described herein can have an amino acid sequence that is structurally similar, as described below, to amino acids 25-968 of SEQ ID NO:2, amino acids 27-790 of SEQ ID NO:4, amino acids 23-727 of SEQ ID NO:6, amino acids 25-964 of SEQ ID NO:8, amino acids 26-848 of SEQ ID NO:10, amino acids 27-784 of SEQ ID NO:12, amino acids 25-742 of SEQ ID NO:14, or amino acids 26-805 of SEQ ID NO:44.

Protein Sequence Similarity and Protein Sequence Identity

Structural similarity of two proteins can be determined by aligning the residues of the two proteins (for example, a candidate protein and any appropriate reference protein described herein) to optimize the number of identical amino acids along the lengths of their sequences; gaps in either or both sequences are permitted in making the alignment in order to optimize the number of identical amino acids, although the amino acids in each sequence must nonetheless remain in their proper order. A reference protein may be a protein described herein or any known metal-regulated protein, as appropriate. Examples of reference proteins include, but are not limited to, amino acids 25-968 of SEQ ID NO:2, amino acids 27-790 of SEQ ID NO:4, amino acids 23-727 of SEQ ID NO:6, amino acids 25-964 of SEQ ID NO:8, amino acids 26-848 of SEQ ID NO:10, amino acids 27-784 of SEQ ID NO:12, amino acids 25-742 of SEQ ID NO:14, and amino acids 26-805 of SEQ ID NO:44. A candidate protein is the protein being compared to the reference protein. A candidate protein can be isolated, for example, from a microbe, or can be produced using recombinant techniques, or chemically or enzymatically synthesized.

Unless modified as otherwise described herein, a pair-wise comparison analysis of amino acid sequences can be carried out using the BESTFIT algorithm in the GCG package (version 10.2, Madison Wis.). Alternatively, proteins may be compared using the Blastp program of the BLAST 2 search algorithm, as described by Tatiana et al. (FEMS Microbiol Lett, 174:247-250 (1999)), and available on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website. The default values for all BLAST 2 search parameters may be used, including matrix=BLOSUM62; open gap penalty=11, extension gap penalty=1, gap x_dropoff=50, expect=10, wordsize=3, and filter on.

In the comparison of two amino acid sequences, structural similarity may be referred to by percent “identity” or may be referred to by percent “similarity.” “Identity” refers to the presence of identical amino acids. “Similarity” refers to the presence of not only identical amino acids but also the presence of conservative substitutions. A conservative substitution for an amino acid in a protein may be selected from other members of the class to which the amino acid belongs. For example, it is well-known in the art of protein biochemistry that an amino acid belonging to a grouping of amino acids having a particular size or characteristic (such as charge, hydrophobicity, or hydrophilicity) can be substituted for another amino acid without altering the activity of a protein, particularly in regions of the protein that are not directly associated with activity. For example, nonpolar (hydrophobic) amino acids include alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine. Polar neutral amino acids include glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine and glutamine. The positively charged (basic) amino acids include arginine, lysine and histidine. The negatively charged (acidic) amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Conservative substitutions include, for example, Lys for Arg and vice versa to maintain a positive charge; Glu for Asp and vice versa to maintain a negative charge; Ser for Thr so that a free —OH is maintained; and Gln for Asn to maintain a free —NH2. Likewise, biologically active analogs of a protein containing deletions or additions of one or more contiguous or noncontiguous amino acids that do not eliminate a functional activity-such as, for example, immunological activity—of the protein are also contemplated.

Thus, as used herein, a protein as described herein and/or the amino acid sequence of one or more SEQ ID NOs can include a protein with at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% amino acid sequence similarity to the reference amino acid sequence.

Alternatively, as used herein, a protein as described herein and/or the amino acid sequence of one or more SEQ ID NOs can include a protein with at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% amino acid sequence identity to the reference amino acid sequence.

FIGS. 15-21 show Clustal Omega alignments for proteins having the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. The alignments indicate amino acids that are conserved in the variants of each protein across different P. multocida strains and, for FIGS. 15 and 21 , Haemophilus influenzae. In FIGS. 15-21 an asterisk (*) indicates positions which have a single, fully conserved residue, a colon (:) indicates conservation between groups of strongly similar properties as roughly equivalent to scoring >0.5 in the Gonnet PAM 250 matrix, and a period (.) indicates conservation between groups of weakly similar properties as roughly equivalent to scoring=<0.5 and >0 in the Gonnet PAM 250 matrix. A person of ordinary skill in the art can deduce from such data regions of the protein in which substitutions, particularly conservative substitutions, may be permitted without unduly affecting activity (immunological activity, protective immunological activity, or seroactive activity of the modified protein.

Consequently, a protein as described herein can include certain variants including, for example, homologous proteins that originate—biologically and/or recombinantly—from microbial species or strains other than the microbial species or strain from which the protein was originally isolated and/or identified.

A protein described herein also can be designed to provide one or more additional sequences such as, for example, the addition of coding sequences for added C-terminal and/or N-terminal amino acids that may facilitate purification by trapping on columns or use of antibodies. Such tags include, for example, histidine-rich tags that allow purification of proteins on nickel columns. Such gene modification techniques and suitable additional sequences are well known in the molecular biology arts. A protein as described herein also may be designed so that certain amino acids at the C-terminus and/or N-terminus are deleted.

A protein described herein can include a “modification.” A modification refers to a chemical or enzymatic derivatization at one or more constituent amino acids. Such a modification can include, for example, a side chain modification, a backbone modification, an N-terminal modification, and/or a C-terminal modification such as, for example, acetylation, hydroxylation, methylation, amidation, and the attachment of a carbohydrate and/or lipid moiety, a cofactor, and the like, and combinations thereof. Modified proteins as described herein may retain the biological activity—such as, for example, immunological activity—of the unmodified protein or may exhibit a reduced or increased biological activity compared to the unmodified protein.

A protein as described herein (including a biologically active analog thereof and/or a modification thereof) can include a native (naturally occurring), a recombinant, a chemically synthesized, or an enzymatically synthesized protein. For example, a protein as described herein may be prepared by isolating the protein from a natural source or may be prepared recombinantly by conventional methods including, for example, preparation as fusion proteins in bacteria or other host cells.

Polynucleotide Sequence Similarity and Polynucleotide Sequence Identity

Proteins as described herein also can be identified in terms of the polynucleotide that encodes the protein. Thus, this disclosure provides polynucleotides that encode a protein as described herein or hybridize, under standard hybridization conditions, to a polynucleotide that encodes a protein as described herein, and the complements of such polynucleotide sequences.

As used herein, a polynucleotide as described herein and/or the nucleic acid sequence of one or more SEQ ID NOs:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, or 43, or a fragment thereof, can include polynucleotides having a sequence identity of at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence identity to an identified reference polynucleotide sequence.

In this context, “sequence identity” refers to the identity between two polynucleotide sequences. Sequence identity is generally determined by aligning the bases of the two polynucleotides (for example, aligning the nucleotide sequence of the candidate sequence and a nucleotide sequence that includes, for example, a nucleotide sequence disclosed herein, such as SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, or 43, or a fragment thereof) to optimize the number of identical nucleotides along the lengths of their sequences; gaps in either or both sequences are permitted in making the alignment in order to optimize the number of shared nucleotides, although the nucleotides in each sequence must nonetheless remain in their proper order. A candidate sequence is the sequence being compared to a known sequence—e.g., a nucleotide sequence that includes a nucleotide sequence described herein, for example, SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13, or 43, or a fragment thereof. For example, two polynucleotide sequences can be compared using the Blastn program of the BLAST 2 search algorithm, as described by Tatusova et al., (FEMS Microbiol Lett., 174:247-250 (1999)), and available on the world wide web at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/. The default values for all BLAST 2 search parameters may be used, including reward for match=1, penalty for mismatch=−2, open gap penalty=5, extension gap penalty=2, gap x dropoff=50, expect=10, wordsize=11, and filter on.

Finally, a polynucleotide as described herein can include any polynucleotide that encodes a protein as described herein. Thus, the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide may be deduced from the amino acid sequence that is to be encoded by the polynucleotide.

This disclosure also provides whole cell preparations of microbes. In one embodiment, the preparation includes a microbe that has been engineered to express the proteins described herein. For instance, a microbe can be engineered to express proteins having structural similarity with SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 44, or a fragment thereof, or any subcombination of those eight proteins. The microbe can be any microbial cell that is amenable to genetic manipulation, including a gram negative or a gram positive microbe. Examples of gram negative microbes include, but are not limited to, E. coli, Salmonella spp., and Pasteurella spp., such as P. multocida.

In one embodiment, the preparation includes two or more populations of microbes. Each of the populations do not express all of SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, or a fragment thereof. Rather, each of the populations express a subset of the seven proteins, and the two or more populations when considered as a whole express the seven proteins. For instance, in one embodiment one population of microbe expresses SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, and 6, and a second population of microbe expresses SEQ ID NOs:8, 10, 12, and 14, or a fragment thereof. A population can be a wild-type microbe or an engineered microbe. A preparation can include one or more wild-type microbes, one or more engineered microbes, or a combination of wild-type and engineered microbes. Examples of wild-type cells include members of the genus Pasteurella, such as P. multocida. In one embodiment, the cell is an attenuated P. multocida. The inventors have determined that administering certain types of Pasteurella strains as whole cells is expected to result in immunological properties that are different than the result of administering the individual strains separately. The different immunological properties include the ability to protect against P. multocida strains having a different serotype than the P. multocida cells administered to the animal. In one embodiment, one whole cell is P. multocida serotype 2,5 and a second whole cell is P. multodica serotype 3,4, and one expresses three of the seven proteins and the other expresses four of the seven proteins. In one embodiment, one of more of the populations of microbes can express SEQ ID NO:44, or a fragment thereof.

The cells present in a whole cell preparation may be inactivated such that the cells cannot replicate but the immunological activity of the proteins as described herein expressed by the microbe is maintained. Typically, the cells may be killed by exposure to agents such as glutaraldehyde, formalin, or formaldehyde.

Compositions

A composition can include one protein isolated described herein, at least two isolated proteins described herein, or a number of proteins that is an integer greater than two (e.g., at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, or at least 20, and so on). In one embodiment, a composition including one protein described herein includes a protein identical to or having structural similarity with SEQ ID NO:44, or a fragment thereof. Unless a specific level of sequence similarity and/or identity is expressly indicated herein (e.g., at least 80% sequence similarity, at least 90% sequence identity, etc.), reference to the amino acid sequence of an identified SEQ ID NO includes variants having the levels of sequence similarity and/or the levels of sequence identity described herein in the section headed “Protein sequence similarity and protein sequence identity.”

A recombinantly-produced protein may be expressed from a vector that permits expression of the protein when the vector is introduced into an appropriate host cell. A host cell may be constructed to produce one or more recombinantly-produced proteins as described herein and, therefore, can include one or more vectors that include at least one polynucleotide encoding a protein described herein. Thus, each vector can include one or more polynucleotides as described herein—i.e., a polynucleotide that encodes a protein as described herein. Methods for the genetic manipulation of microbes, such as P. multocida, are known and routine in the art.

Certain compositions such as, for example, those including recombinantly-produced proteins, can include a maximum number of proteins. In some embodiments, the maximum number of proteins can refer to the maximum total number of proteins. Certain compositions can include, for example, no more than 50 proteins such as, for example, no more than 40 proteins, no more than 30 proteins, no more than 25 proteins, no more than 20 proteins, no more than 17 proteins, no more than 16 proteins, no more than 15 proteins, no more than 14 proteins, no more than 13 proteins, no more than 12 proteins, no more than 11 proteins, no more than 10 proteins, no more than nine proteins, no more than eight proteins, no more than seven proteins, no more than six proteins, no more than five proteins, no more than four proteins, no more than three proteins, no more than two proteins, or no more than one protein. In other embodiments, a maximum number of recombinantly-produced proteins may be specified in a similar manner. In still other embodiments, a maximum number of non-recombinantly-produced proteins may be specified in a similar manner.

In one embodiment, a composition can include proteins isolatable from one microbe when the microbe is engineered to express one or more proteins identical to or having structural similarity with a protein described herein. In one embodiment, the microbe is engineered to express proteins identical to or having structural similarity with one of more of SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 44, or a fragment thereof. In one embodiment, the microbe expresses a protein identical to or having structural similarity with SEQ ID NO:44, or a fragment thereof. In one embodiment, a composition can include proteins isolatable from two or more microbes. For instance, a composition can include proteins isolatable from two or more wild-type P. multocida.

In certain embodiments, a composition can include a preparation of whole cells. In one embodiment, the preparation is a whole cell that has been engineered to express one or more proteins identical to or having structural similarity with a protein described herein. In one embodiment, the microbe is engineered to express proteins identical to or have structural similarity with SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, or a fragment thereof. In one embodiment, the microbe is engineered to express proteins are identical to or have structural similarity with SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 44, or a fragment thereof. In one embodiment, the microbe expresses a protein identical to or having structural similarity with SEQ ID NO: 44, or a fragment thereof. In one embodiment, the preparation is two or more populations of microbes where each of the populations express a subset of the proteins, e.g., the seven proteins (proteins identical to or having structural similarity with SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, or a fragment thereof), or the eight proteins (proteins identical to or having structural similarity with SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 44, or a fragment thereof) and the two or more populations when considered as a whole express the seven proteins. In some of these embodiments, the whole cell can be a P. multocida, such as a wild-type P. multocida. In some embodiments, a composition can include whole cell preparations from two, three, four, five, or six strains.

Specific examples of compositions include, but are not limited to, the following. In one embodiment, a composition includes metal regulated proteins and enhanced proteins. The metal regulated proteins are isolatable from P. multocida after growth in low iron conditions and have molecular weights of 104 kDa to 75 kDa, such as 99 kDa, 81 kDa, and 80 kDa. The proteins can be, or have structural similarity with, a fragment of SEQ ID NOs:6, 10, or 14. The enhanced proteins are isolatable from P. multocida after growth in low iron conditions and have molecular weights of 156 kDa to 146 kDa, such as 151 kDa, and 114 kDa to 82 kDa, such as 109 kDa, 89 kDa, and 87 kDa. The proteins can be, or have structural similarity with, a fragment of SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 8, or 12. Optionally, a composition can include non-metal regulated proteins that are isolatable from P. multocida. The non-metal regulated proteins can have molecular weights of 254 kDa to 244 kDa, such as 249 kDa, 65 kDa to 55 kDa, such as 60 kDa, and 47 kDa to 17 kDa, such as 42 kDa, 38 kDa, 27 kDa, 26 kDa, and 22 kDa. Another specific example of a composition is one that includes a protein that is, or has structural similarity with, a fragment of SEQ ID NO:44, or a fragment thereof.

Optionally, a protein described herein can be covalently bound to a carrier protein to improve the immunological properties of the protein. Useful carrier proteins are known in the art. The chemical coupling of a protein described herein can be carried out using known and routine methods. For instance, various homobifunctional and/or heterobifunctional cross-linker reagents such as bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate, bis(diazobenzidine), dimethyl adipimidate, dimethyl pimelimidate, dimethyl superimidate, disuccinimidyl suberate, glutaraldehyde, m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide, sulfo-m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide, sulfosuccinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cycloheane-1-carboxylate, sulfosuccinimidyl 4-(p-maleimido-phenyl) butyrate and (1-ethyl-3-(dimethyl-aminopropyl) carbodiimide can be used (Harlow and Lane, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, generally and Chapter 5, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., N.Y. (1988)).

A compositions described herein can include low concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS is a component of the outer membrane of most gram negative microbes (see, for instance, Nikaido and Vaara, Outer Membrane, In: Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Neidhardt et al., (eds.) American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C., pp. 7-22 (1987), and typically includes polysaccharides (0-specific chain, the outer and inner core) and the lipid A region. The lipid A component of LPS is the most biologically active component of the LPS structure and together induces a wide spectrum of pathophysiological effects in mammals. The most dramatic effects are fever, disseminated intravascular coagulation, complement activation, hypotensive shock, and death. The non-specific immunostimulatory activity of LPS can enhance the formation of a granuloma at the site of administration of compositions that include LPS. Such reactions can result in undue stress on the animal by which the animal may back off feed or water for a period of time, and exasperate infectious conditions in the animal. In addition, the formation of a granuloma at the site of injection can increase the likelihood of possible down grading of the carcass due to scaring or blemishes of the tissue at the injection site.

The concentration of LPS can be determined using routine methods known in the art. Such methods typically include measurement of dye binding by LPS (see, for instance, Keler and Nowotny, Analyt. Biochem., 156, 189 (1986)) or the use of a Limulus amebocyte lysate(LAL) test (see, for instance, Endotoxins and Their Detection With the Limulus Amebocyte Lystate Test, Alan R. Liss, Inc., 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. (1982)). There are four basic commercially available methods that are typically used with an LAL test: the gel-clot test; the turbidimetric (spectrophotometric) test; the colorimetric test; and the chromogenic test. An example of a gel-clot assay is available under the tradename E-TOXATE (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.; see Sigma Technical Bulletin No. 210), and PYROTELL (Associates of Cape Cod, Inc., East Falmouth, Mass.). Typically, assay conditions include contacting the composition with a preparation containing a lysate of the circulating amebocytes of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. When exposed to LPS, the lysate increases in opacity as well as viscosity and may gel. About 0.1 milliliter of the composition is added to lysate. Typically, the pH of the composition is between 6 and 8, preferably, between 6.8 and 7.5. The mixture of composition and lysate is incubated for 1 hour undisturbed at 37° C. After incubation, the mixture is observed to determine if there was gelation of the mixture. Gelation indicates the presence of endotoxin. To determine the amount of endotoxin present in the composition, dilutions of a standardized solution of endotoxin are made and tested at the same time that the composition is tested. Standardized solutions of endotoxin are commercially available from, for instance, Sigma Chemical (Catalog No. 210-SE), U.S. Pharmacopeia (Rockville, Md., Catalog No. 235503), and Associates of Cape Cod, Inc., (Catalog No. E0005). In general, when a composition of the present invention is prepared by isolating proteins from a microbe, such as P. multocida, by a method as described herein (e.g., a method that includes disrupting and solubilizing the cells, and collecting the insoluble proteins), the amount of LPS in a composition of the present invention is less than the amount of LPS present in a mixture of same amount of the microbe that has been disrupted under the same conditions but not solubilized. Typically, the level of LPS in a composition of the present invention is decreased by, in increasing order of preference, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% relative to the level of LPS in a composition prepared by disrupting, but not solubilizing, the same microbe.

A composition described herein optionally further includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. “Pharmaceutically acceptable” refers to a diluent, carrier, excipient, salt, etc., that is compatible with the other ingredients of the composition, and not deleterious to the recipient thereof. Typically, the composition includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier when the composition is used as described herein. Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include buffer solutions and generally exclude blood products such as, for example, whole blood and/or plasma. The compositions as described herein may be formulated in pharmaceutical preparations in a variety of forms adapted to the chosen route of administration, including routes suitable for stimulating an immune response to an antigen. Thus, a composition as described herein can be administered via known routes including, for example, oral; parenteral including intradermal, transcutaneous and subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, etc. and topically, such as, intranasal, intrapulmonary, intramammary, intravaginal, intrauterine, intradermal, transcutaneous and rectally, etc. It is foreseen that a composition can be administered to a mucosal surface, such as by administration to the nasal or respiratory mucosa (e.g., via a spray or aerosol), in order to stimulate mucosal immunity, such as production of secretory IgA antibodies, throughout the animal's body.

A composition as described herein can also be administered via a sustained or delayed release implant. Implants suitable for use according to the invention are known and include, for example, those disclosed in International Publication No. WO 2001/037810 and/or International Publication No. WO 1996/001620. Implants can be produced at sizes small enough to be administered by aerosol or spray. Implants also can include nanospheres and microspheres.

A composition of the present invention is administered in an amount sufficient to provide an immunological response to proteins or whole cells described herein. The amount of protein present in a composition can vary. For instance, the dosage of protein can be between 0.01 micrograms (μg) and 3000 milligrams (mg), typically between 100 μg and 2000 ug. When the composition is a whole cell preparation, the cells can be present at a concentration of 10⁶ bacteria/ml, 10⁷ bacteria/ml, 10⁸ bacteria/ml, or 10⁹ bacteria/ml. When a mixture of whole cells is administered (e.g., one population of cells expressing a subset of proteins and a second population expressing another subset of proteins) the ratio of populations can be 1:1. For an injectable composition (e.g. subcutaneous, intramuscular, etc.) the protein is preferably present in the composition in an amount such that the total volume of the composition administered is 0.5 ml to 5.0 ml, typically 1.0-3.0 ml. When the composition is a whole cell preparation, the cells are preferably present in the composition in an amount that the total volume of the composition administered is 0.5 ml to 5.0 ml, typically 1.0-2.0 ml. The amount administered will vary depending on various factors including, but not limited to, the specific proteins or cells chosen, the weight, physical condition and age of the animal, and the route of administration. Thus, the absolute weight of the protein or number of cells included in a given unit dosage form can vary, and depends upon factors such as the species, age, weight and physical condition of the animal, as well as the method of administration. Such factors can be determined by one skilled in the art. Other examples of dosages suitable for the invention are disclosed in Emery et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,736).

The formulations may be conveniently presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by methods well known in the art of pharmacy. All methods of preparing a composition including a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier include the step of bringing the active compound (e.g., a protein or whole cell described herein) into association with a carrier that constitutes one or more accessory ingredients. In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing the active compound into association with a liquid carrier, a finely divided solid carrier, or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired formulations.

A composition including a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier can also include an adjuvant. An “adjuvant” refers to an agent that can act in a nonspecific manner to enhance an immune response to a particular antigen, thus potentially reducing the quantity of antigen necessary in any given immunizing composition, and/or the frequency of injection necessary in order to generate an adequate immune response to the antigen of interest. Adjuvants may include, for example, IL-1, IL-2, emulsifiers, muramyl dipeptides, dimethyldiocradecylammonium bromide (DDA), avridine, aluminum hydroxide, oils, saponins, alpha-tocopherol, polysaccharides, emulsified paraffins (available from under the tradename EMULSIGEN from MVP Laboratories, Ralston, Nebr.), ISA-70, RIBI and other substances known in the art.

In another embodiment, a composition including a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier can include a biological response modifier, such as, for example, IL-2, IL-4 and/or IL-6, TNF, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, and other cytokines that effect immune cells. A composition can also include an antibiotic, preservative, anti-oxidant, chelating agent, etc. Such components are known in the art.

Methods of Making

This disclosure also provides methods for obtaining the proteins and whole cells described herein. Proteins and whole cell preparations described herein may be obtained by incubating a microbe, such as P. multocida, under conditions that promote expression of one or more of the proteins described herein. The proteins and whole cells as described herein may be isolatable from a microbe engineered to recombinantly express one or more of the proteins. In one embodiment, a P. multocida of serotype 2,5 or serotype 3,4 is used. In addition, such microbes are readily obtainable by techniques routine and known in the art. The microbes may be derived from an infected animal as a field isolate, and used to obtain the proteins and/or the whole cell preparations as described herein, or stored for future use, for example, in a frozen repository at from −20° C. to −95° C., or from −40° C. to −50° C., in bacteriological media containing 20% glycerol, and other like media.

The present invention also includes compositions prepared by the processes disclosed herein. Typically, such conditions are low metal conditions. As used herein, the phrase “low metal conditions” refers to an environment, typically a bacteriological medium that contains amounts of a free metal that cause a microbe to express a metal regulated protein at a detectable level. As used herein, the phrase “high metal conditions” refers to an environment that contains an amount of a free metal that causes a microbe to express a metal-regulated protein at a decreased level compared to expression of the metal-regulated protein under low metal conditions. In some cases, “high metal conditions” can refer to an environment that causes a cell to fail to express one or more of the metal-regulated proteins described herein at a detectable level. In some cases, “high metal conditions” can include a metal-rich natural environment and/or culture in a metal-rich medium without a metal chelator. In contrast, in some cases, “low metal conditions” can include culture in a medium that includes a metal chelator, as described in more detail below. Metals are those present in the periodic table under Groups 1 through 17 (IUPAC notation; also referred to as Groups I-A, II-A, III-B, IV-B, V-B, VI-B, VII-B, VIII, I-B, II-B, III-A, IV-A, V-A, VI-A, and VII-A, respectively, under CAS notation). Preferably, metals are those in Groups 2 through 12, more preferably, Groups 3-12. Even more preferably, the metal is iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, or selenium, most preferably, iron, copper, or zinc.

Low metal conditions are generally the result of the addition of a metal chelating compound to a bacteriological medium, the use of a bacteriological medium that contains low amounts of a metal, or a combination thereof. High metal conditions are generally present when a chelator is not present in the medium, when a metal is added to the medium, or a combination thereof. Examples of metal chelators include natural and synthetic compounds. Examples of natural compounds include plant phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids. Examples of flavonoids include the iron chelator myricetin. Examples of synthetic iron chelators include 2,2′-dipyridyl (also referred to in the art as 2,2′-bipyridyl), 8-hydroxyquinoline, ethylenediamine-di hydroxyphenylacetic acid (EDDHA), desferrioxamine methanesulphonate (desferol), transferrin, lactoferrin, ovotransferrin, biological siderophores, such as the catecholates and hydroxamates, and citrate.

In one embodiment, 2,2′-dipyridyl is used for the chelation of iron. Typically, 2,2′-dipyridyl is added to the media at a concentration of at least 0.0025 micrograms/milliliter (μg/ml), at least 0.025 μg/ml, or at least 0.25 μg/ml. High levels of 2,2′-dipyridyl can be 10 μg/ml, 20 μg/ml, or 30 μg/ml.

Typically, TPEN is added to the media at a concentration of at least 25 micromolar (μM), at least 50 μM, or at least 70 μM. In one embodiment, TPEN can be 70 μM for expression of the polypeptide described herein, and higher levels may also be used.

It is expected that a P. multocida with a mutation in a fur gene will result in the constitutive expression of many, if not all, of the metal regulated proteins of the present invention. The production of a fur mutation in a P. multocida can be produced using routine methods including, for instance, electroporation and genetic constructs useful for gene knock-out in gram negative bacteria.

In one embodiment, the microbe, such as P. multocida used to make a composition described herein, e.g., a composition including isolated proteins or a composition including whole cells, may be produced using a P. multocida that has been engineered to recombinantly express one or more of the proteins described herein. In one embodiment, a P. multocida that expresses one or more of the proteins can be engineered to express the others. In one embodiment, such a P. multocida is incubated in the presence of low iron conditions, and the one or more recombinant proteins are expressed during the incubation in the low iron conditions. The result is a P. multocida that expresses iron-regulated proteins and the one or more recombinant proteins.

Many Pasteurella spp. are able to grow in low metal conditions in vitro in artificial media only after adaptation. For instance, a Pasteurella spp. can be adapted to low iron conditions in vitro by growth in the presence of low concentrations of an iron chelator and, after growth in a medium containing the chelator, gradually increasing the concentration of the chelator. For instance, a Pasteurella spp. can be adapted to growth in low iron conditions by adding 0.0025 μg/ml of 2,2′-dipyridyl to a medium, and gradually increasing the concentration of the chelator to a greater concentration, for instance 25 μg/ml.

The medium used to incubate the microbe is not critical, and conditions useful for the culture of P. multocida are known to the skilled person. The volume of medium used to incubate the microbe can vary. When a P. multocida microbe is being evaluated for the ability to produce the proteins described herein, the microbe can be grown in a suitable volume, for instance, 10 milliliters to 1 liter of medium. When a microbe is being grown to obtain proteins for use in, for instance, administration to animals, the microbe may be grown in a bioreactor to allow the isolation of larger amounts of proteins. Methods for growing microbes in a bioreactor are routine and known in the art. The conditions used for growing a microbe preferably include a metal chelator, more preferably an iron chelator, for instance 2,2′-dipyridyl, TPEN, or quercetin, a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5, preferably between 6.9 and 7.1, and a temperature of 37° C. When a fermentor is used, the culture may be purged with an appropriate gas to reduce dissolved oxygen content. Nitrogen is an example of such a gas. Dissolved oxygen may be regulated automatically or manually by agitation, the introduction of sterile air or pure oxygen to the culture.

In some aspects of the invention, a P. multocida may be harvested after growth. Harvesting includes concentrating the microbe into a smaller volume and suspending in a media different than the growth media. Methods for concentrating a microbe are routine and known in the art, and include, for example, filtration and/or centrifugation. Typically, the concentrated microbe is suspended in decreasing amounts of buffer. Preferably, the final buffer includes a metal chelator, preferably, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). An example of a buffer that can be used contains Tris-base (7.3 grams/liter) and EDTA (0.9 grams/liter), at a pH of 8.5. Optionally, the final buffer also minimizes proteolytic degradation. This can be accomplished by having the final buffer at a pH of greater than 8.0, preferably, at least 8.5, and/or including one or more proteinase inhibitors (e.g., phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride). Optionally and preferably, the concentrated microbe is frozen at −20° C. or below until disrupted. In one embodiment, bacterial cells may be concentrated into a pellet by, for instance, centrifugation, and the concentrated cells suspended in osmotic shock buffer (OMS; 7.26 grams/liter Tris-base and 0.93 grams/liter EDTA adjusted to a pH of 8.5). The ratio of cells to OMS may be 50 grams cell pellet, 60 grams cell pellet, or 70 grams cell pellet to 1 liter of OMS. The suspension of cells in OMS can be incubated at 2-8° C. for at least 24 hours, at least 48 hours, or at least 60 hours to remove excess endotoxin from the cells. In one embodiment, the incubation is for no greater than 72 hours. After the incubation the suspension is centrifuged again and the supernatant discarded to remove free endotoxin and any extracellular material, e.g., secreted proteins.

When the P. multocida is to be used as a whole cell preparation, the harvested cells may be processed using routine and known methods to inactivate the cells. Alternatively, when a P. multocida is to be used to prepare proteins of the present invention, the P. multocida may be disrupted using chemical, physical, or mechanical methods routine and known in the art, including, for example, french press, sonication, or homogenization. Preferably, homogenization is used. As used herein, “disruption” refers to the breaking up of the cell. Disruption of a microbe can be measured by methods that are routine and known in the art, including, for instance, changes in optical density. Typically, a microbe is subjected to disruption until the percent transmittance is increased by 20% when a 1:100 dilution is measured. The temperature during disruption is typically kept at 4° C., to further minimize proteolytic degradation.

The disrupted microbe is solubilized in a detergent, for instance, an anionic, zwitterionic, nonionic, or cationic detergent. Preferably, the detergent is sarcosine, more preferably, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. As used herein, the term “solubilize” refers to dissolving cellular materials (e.g., proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates) into the aqueous phase of the buffer in which the microbe was disrupted, and the formation of aggregates of insoluble cellular materials. The conditions for solubilization preferably result in the aggregation of proteins of the present invention into insoluble aggregates that are large enough to allow easy isolation by, for instance, centrifugation.

Preferably, the sarcosine is added such that the final ratio of sarcosine to gram weight of disrupted microbe is between 1.0 gram sarcosine per 4.5 grams pellet mass and 6.0 grams sarcosine per 4.5 grams pellet mass, preferably, 4.5 gram sarcosine per 4.5 grams pellet mass. The solubilization of the microbe may be measured by methods that are routine and known in the art, including, for instance, changes in optical density. Typically, the solubilization is allowed to occur for at least 24 hours, more preferably, at least 48 hours, most preferably, at least 60 hours. The temperature during disruption is typically kept low, preferably at 4° C.

The insoluble aggregates that include the proteins described herein may be isolated by methods that are routine and known in the art, such as centrifugation, filtration, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the insoluble aggregates are isolated by filtration, such as tangential or crossflow filtration. Examples of a molecular weight cutoff to use with tangential filtration are 100 kDa or 300 kDa. In one embodiment, a tangential filtration system has a pore size of 0.2 microns. Tangential filtration may aid in removal of residual sarcosine from the protein suspension. Tangential filtration results in concentration of the protein suspension. Thus, the insoluble aggregates can be isolated at a significantly lower cost.

In one embodiment, the sarcosine is removed from the isolated proteins. Methods for removing sarcosine from the isolated proteins are known in the art, and include, for instance, diafiltration, precipitation, hydrophobic chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, and ultra-filtration and washing the proteins in alcohol, such as isopropyl alcohol, by diafiltration. After isolation, the proteins suspended in buffer and stored at low temperature, for instance, −20° C. or below. In those aspects of the present invention where a whole cell preparation is to be made, after growth the microbe can be killed with the addition of an agent such as glutaraldehyde, formalin, or formaldehyde, at a concentration sufficient to inactivate the cells in the culture. For instance, formalin can be added at a concentration of 0.3% (vol:vol). After a period of time sufficient to inactivate the cells, the cells can be harvested by, for instance, diafiltration and/or centrifugation, and washed.

In other aspects, an isolated protein of the invention may be prepared recombinantly. When prepared recombinantly, a polynucleotide encoding the protein may be identified and cloned into an appropriate expression host. The recombinant expression host may be grown in an appropriate medium, disrupted, and the proteins isolated as described above.

Methods of Use

Also provided are methods of using the compositions described herein. The methods include administering to an animal an effective amount of a composition described herein. As used herein, an “effective amount” of a composition described herein is the amount able to elicit the desired response in the recipient. The composition can be administered at a time that maternal antibody may be present, for instance, as early as one day of age, or at a later time during the life of the animal. In one embodiment, the composition is administered before weaning, or at the time the animal is weaned (when the animal begins to be accustomed to food other than its mother's milk). The animal can be, for instance, fish, avian (including, for instance, chickens or turkeys), bovine (including, for instance, cattle), caprine (including, for instance, goats), ovine (including, for instance, sheep), porcine (including, for instance, swine), bison (including, for instance, buffalo), equine (including, for instance, horses), a companion animal (including, for instance, a dog or a cat), members of the family Cervidae (including, for instance, deer, elk, moose, caribou and reindeer), or a human. Examples of companion animals include dogs and cats. In one embodiment, an animal is a mouse. In one embodiment, an animal is a hooved animal.

The methods described herein refer to gram negative microbes. As used herein, a gram negative microbe includes, but is not limited to, members of the family Pasteurellaceae, such as Pasteurella spp. (including, for instance, P. multocida and P. haemolytica), Photobacterium damsela subsp., piscicida formerly known as Pasteurella piscicida, Mannheimia spp., and Haemophilus spp., members of the family Vibrionaceae (including, for instance, Vibrio cholerae), Campylobacter spp. (including, for instance, C. jejuni), members of the family Enterobacteriaceae (including, for instance, Klebsiella spp., E. coli, Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Proteus spp., Serratia spp., and Yersinia spp.), and members of the family Pseudomonadaceae, preferably Pseudomonas spp., (including, for instance, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Examples of Klebsiella spp. include K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca. Examples of Salmonella spp. include Salmonella enterica serovars., Bredeney, Dublin, Agona, Blockley, Enteriditis, Typhimurium, Hadar, Heidelberg, Montevideo, Muenster, Newport senftenberg Salmonella cholerasuis, and S. typhi. Examples of strains of P. multocida include, for example, P. multocida serotypes 1 through 16 (serotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16) or combinations thereof (for instance, 2,5, also referred to as 2×5 [both serotypes 2 and 5 are expressed by a P. multocida], or 3, 4 also referred to as 3×4 [both serotypes 3 and 4 are expressed by a P. multocida]). Examples of strains of E. coli include, for example, E. coli serotypes O1a, O2a, O78, and O157; different O:H serotypes including 0104, 0111, 026, 0113, 091; hemolytic strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli such as K88⁺, F4⁺, F18ab⁺, and F18ac⁺; enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterohemorrhagic (EHEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC) and enteroaggregative (EAEC) strains of E. coli; and E. coli able to cause extra-intestinal infections, such as uropathogenic strains. In one embodiment, the gram negative microbe is a pathogenic microbe. Respiratory pathogens such as Bordetella such species as B. bronchiseptica, B. pertussis and B. parapertussis, and B. avium.

In some embodiments, a method may further include additional administrations (e.g., one or more booster administrations) of the composition to the animal to enhance or stimulate a secondary immune response. A booster can be administered at a time after the first administration, for instance, one to eight weeks, preferably two to four weeks, after the first administration of the composition. Subsequent boosters can be administered one, two, three, four, or more times annually. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is expected that in some embodiments annual boosters will not be necessary, as an animal will be challenged in the field by exposure to microbes expressing proteins having epitopes that are structurally related to epitopes present on proteins of the composition administered to the animal.

In one embodiment, a method includes making antibody to a protein described herein, for instance by inducing the production of antibody in an animal, or by recombinant techniques. The antibody produced includes antibody that specifically binds at least one protein present in the composition. In this embodiment, an “effective amount” is an amount effective to result in the production of antibody in the animal. Methods for determining whether an animal has produced antibodies that specifically bind a protein present in a composition of described herein can be determined using routine methods. Also provided is antibody that specifically binds to a protein described herein, and compositions including such antibodies.

As used herein, an antibody that can “specifically bind” a protein is an antibody that interacts with the epitope of the antigen that induced the synthesis of the antibody, or interacts with a structurally related epitope. At least some of the epitopes present in the proteins described herein are epitopes that are conserved in the proteins of different species and different genera of microbes. Accordingly, antibody produced using a protein described herein is expected to bind to proteins expressed by more than one species of microbe, and provide broad spectrum protection against gram negative microbes.

In one embodiment, a method includes treating an infection in an animal, caused by a gram negative microbe. As used herein, the term “infection” refers to the presence of a gram negative microbe in an animal's body, which may or may not be clinically apparent. Treating an infection can be prophylactic or, alternatively, can be initiated after the animal is infected by the microbe. Treatment that is prophylactic—e.g., initiated before a subject is infected by a microbe or while any infection remains subclinical—is referred to herein as treatment of a subject that is “at risk” of infection. As used herein, the term “at risk” refers to an animal that may or may not actually possess the described risk. Thus, typically, an animal “at risk” of infection by a microbe is an animal present in an area where animals have been identified as infected by the microbe and/or is likely to be exposed to the microbe even if the animal has not yet manifested any detectable indication of infection by the microbe and regardless of whether the animal may harbor a subclinical amount of the microbe. Accordingly, administration of a composition can be performed before, during, or after the animal has first contact with the microbe. Treatment initiated after the animal's first contact with the microbe may result in decreasing the severity of symptoms and/or clinical signs of infection by the microbe, completely removing the microbe, and/or decreasing the likelihood of experiencing a clinically evident infection compared to an animal to which the composition is not administered. The method includes administering an effective amount of a composition described herein to an animal having, or at risk of having, an infection caused by a gram negative microbe, and determining whether the number of microbes causing the infection has decreased. In this embodiment, an “effective amount” is an amount effective to reduce the number of the specified microbes in an animal or reduce the likelihood that the animal experiences a clinically-evident infection compared to an animal to which the composition is not administered. Methods for determining whether an infection is caused by a gram negative microbe are routine and known in the art, as are methods for determining whether the infection has decreased. The successful treatment of a gram negative microbial infection in an animal is disclosed in Examples 15-16, which demonstrates that a composition described herein made from two P. multocida strains, one serotype 2×5 and one serotype 3×4, protected chickens from challenge with a P. multocida of serotype 1.

In another embodiment, a method includes treating one or more symptoms or clinical signs of certain conditions in an animal that may be caused by infection by a gram negative microbe. The method includes administering an effective amount of a composition described herein to an animal having or at risk of having a condition, or exhibiting symptoms and/or clinical signs of a condition, and determining whether at least one symptom and/or clinical sign of the condition is changed, preferably, reduced. In one embodiment, the animal has a condition caused by a member of the family Pasteurellaceae, such as Pasteurella spp. (including, for instance, P. multocida, P. haemolytica, and P. anatipestifer), Mannheimia spp., or Haemophilus spp. Examples of conditions include, but are not limited to, fowl cholera, new duck disease, Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (also referred to as shipping fever pneumonia, or simply pneumonia), hemorrhagic septicemia in cattle, buffalo and bison in tropical and subtropical areas; pneumonia and atrophic rhinitis in swine; snuffles in rabbits; and mastitis and pneumonia in sheep. Mannheimia haemolytica, also known as Pasteurella haemolytica, can cause fibrinous pleuropneumonia involved in the shipping fever complex in cattle, septicemia in newborn and pneumonia and mastitis in adult sheep. Haemophilus spp. can cause Glasser's disease in swine, fowl coryza in chickens, contagious equine metritis. P. multocida can cause fowl cholera which, in the peracute form, is one of the most virulent and highly infectious diseases of poultry. P. anatipestifer can cause new duck disease (also known as duck septicaemia or infectious serositis).

Treatment of symptoms and/or clinical signs associated with conditions caused by infection by a gram negative microbe can be prophylactic or, alternatively, can be initiated after the development of a condition described herein. As used herein, the term “symptom” refers to subjective evidence of a disease or condition experienced by the patient and caused by infection by a microbe. As used herein, the term “clinical sign” or, simply, “sign” refers to objective evidence of disease or condition caused by infection by a microbe. Symptoms and/or clinical signs associated with conditions referred to herein and the evaluations of such symptoms are routine and known in the art. Treatment that is prophylactic, for instance, initiated before a subject manifests symptoms or signs of a condition caused by a microbe, is referred to herein as treatment of a subject that is “at risk” of developing the condition. Thus, typically, an animal “at risk” of developing a condition is an animal present in an area where animals having the condition have been diagnosed and/or is likely to be exposed to a microbe causing the condition even if the animal has not yet manifested symptoms or signs of any condition caused by the microbe. Accordingly, administration of a composition can be performed before, during, or after the occurrence of the conditions described herein. Symptoms and/or clinical signs caused by a gram negative microbial infection are known to the person skilled in the art. Examples of symptoms and/or clinical signs include, but are not limited to, pneumonia, depression and toxemia, fever, serious to mucopurulent nasal discharge, moist cough, a rapid, shallow respiratory rate, abscesses and lesions in the lungs of cattle and swine; acute septicemia, joint infections and arthritis in poultry and wildfowl; turbinate atrophy in swine; superficial abscesses in cats; bite wound infections in humans, usually from dog or cat bites. Treatment initiated after the development of a condition may result in decreasing the severity of the symptoms or signs of one of the conditions, or completely removing the symptoms or signs. In this embodiment, an “effective amount” is an amount effective to prevent the manifestation of symptoms or signs of a disease, decrease the severity of the symptoms or signs of a disease, and/or completely remove the symptoms or signs.

Also provided is a method for decreasing colonization by a gram negative microbe, for instance blocking the attachment sites of a gram negative microbe, including tissues of the skeletal system (for instance, bones, cartilage, tendons and ligaments), muscular system, (for instance, skeletal and smooth muscles), circulatory system (for instance, heart, blood vessels, capillaries and blood), nervous system (for instance, brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves), respiratory system (for instance, nose, trachea lungs, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli), digestive system (for instance, mouth, salivary glands, esophagus, liver, stomach, large and small intestine), excretory system (for instance, kidney, ureter, bladder, and urethra), endocrine system (for instance, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, pancreas and adrenal glands), reproductive system (for instance, ovaries, oviduct, uterus, vagina, mammary glands, testes, and seminal vesicles), lymphatic/immune systems (for instance, lymph, lymph nodes and vessels, mononuclear or white blood cells, such as macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and lymphocytes, including T cells and B cells), and specific cell lineages (for instance, precursor cells, epithelial cells, stem cells), and the like.

Decreasing colonization in an animal may be performed prophylactically or, alternatively, can be initiated after the animal is colonized by the microbe. Treatment that is prophylactic—e.g., initiated before a subject is colonized by a microbe or while any colonization remains undetected—is referred to herein as treatment of a subject that is “at risk” of colonization by the microbe. Thus, typically, an animal “at risk” of colonization by a microbe is an animal present in an area where animals have been identified as colonized by the microbe and/or is likely to be exposed to the microbe even if the animal has not yet manifested any detectable indication of colonization by the microbe and regardless of whether the animal may harbor a sub-colonization number of the microbe. Accordingly, administration of a composition can be performed before, during, or after the animal has first contact with the microbe. Treatment initiated after the animal's first contact with the microbe may result in decreasing the extent of colonization by the microbe, completely removing the microbe, and/or decreasing the likelihood that the animal becomes colonized by the microbe compared to an animal to which the composition is not administered. Thus, the method includes administering an effective amount of a composition described herein to an animal colonized by, or at risk of being colonized by, a gram negative microbe. In this embodiment, an “effective amount” is an amount sufficient to decrease colonization of the animal by the microbe, where decreasing colonization refers to one or more of: decreasing the extent of colonization by the microbe, completely removing the microbe, and/or decreasing the likelihood that the animal becomes colonized by the microbe compared to an animal to which the composition is not administered. Methods for evaluating the colonization of an animal by a microbe are routine and known in the art. For instance, colonization of an animal's respiratory tract by a microbe can be determined by measuring the presence of the microbe in the animal's specimens from the lower respiratory tract by tracheal swab, transtracheal wash, or bronchoalveolar lavage. It is expected that decreasing the colonization of an animal by a microbe will reduce transmission of the microbe to other animals of the same or different species.

Also provided is the use of such antibody to target a microbe expressing a protein having an epitope structurally related to an epitope present on a protein described herein. A composition described herein can be used to provide for active or passive immunization against bacterial infection. Generally, the composition can be administered to an animal to provide active immunization. However, the composition can also be used to induce production of immune products, such as antibodies, which can be collected from the producing animal and administered to another animal to provide passive immunity. Immune components, such as antibodies, can be collected to prepare compositions (preferably containing antibody) from serum, plasma, blood, colostrum, etc. for passive immunization therapies. Antibody compositions including monoclonal antibodies and/or anti-idiotypes can also be prepared using known methods. Chimeric antibodies include human-derived constant regions of both heavy and light chains and murine-derived variable regions that are antigen-specific (Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1984, 81(21):6851-5; LoBuglio et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86(11):4220-4; Boulianne et al., Nature, 1984, 312(5995):643-6.). Humanized antibodies substitute the murine constant and framework (FR) (of the variable region) with the human counterparts (Jones et al., Nature, 1986, 321(6069):522-5; Riechmann et al., Nature, 1988, 332(6162):323-7; Verhoeyen et al., Science, 1988, 239(4847):1534-6; Queen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86(24):10029-33; Daugherty et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1991, 19(9):2471-6.). Alternatively, certain mouse strains can be used that have been genetically engineered to produce antibodies that are almost completely of human origin; following immunization the B cells of these mice are harvested and immortalized for the production of human monoclonal antibodies (Bruggeman and Taussig, Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 1997, 8(4):455-8; Lonberg and Huszar, Int. Rev. Immunol., 1995; 13(1):65-93; Lonberg et al., Nature, 1994, 368:856-9; Taylor et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1992, 20:6287-95.). Passive antibody compositions and fragments thereof, e.g., scFv, Fab, F(ab′)₂ or Fv or other modified forms thereof, may be administered to a recipient in the form of serum, plasma, blood, colostrum, and the like. However, the antibodies may also be isolated from serum, plasma, blood, colostrum, and the like, using known methods for later use in a concentrated or reconstituted form such as, for instance, lavage solutions, impregnated dressings and/or topical agents and the like. Passive immunization preparations may be particularly advantageous for the treatment of acute systemic illness, or passive immunization of young animals that failed to receive adequate levels of passive immunity through maternal colostrum. Antibodies useful for passive immunization may also be useful to conjugate to various drugs or antibiotics that could be directly targeted to bacteria expressing during a systemic or localized infection a protein having an epitope structurally related to an epitope present on a protein described herein.

Animal models are available for experimentally evaluating the compositions described herein. These models are commonly accepted models for the study of disease caused by gram negative microbes. In those cases where a gram negative microbe causes disease in an animal, for instance a cow or a chicken, the natural host can be used to experimentally evaluate the compositions described herein.

However, protection in an animal model is not the only way to assess whether a composition can confer protection to an animal against infection by a gram negative microbe. The adaptive immune response consists of two primary divisions: the humoral (antibody) response and the cellular (T cell) response. Following infection by a bacterial pathogen, dendritic cells at the infection site encounter microbial antigens and produce signaling molecules such as, for example, surface receptors and cytokines in response to conserved molecular patterns associated with the specific bacterium. These signals are shaped by the nature of the pathogen and ideally lead to the appropriate antibody and T cell responses that protect the host from disease. While some bacterial diseases are controlled primarily through antibody functions, others require T cell responses or both antibody and T cell responses for protection. The goal of vaccine biology is to identify the immune responses that provide protection and then design a vaccine to reproduce one or more of these responses in humans.

Antibodies can have many different functions in conferring protection against infection such as, for example, complement fixation, opsonization, neutralization, and/or agglutination. Moreover, some subclasses of antibodies are better than others at specific functions; for example, or complement fixation the following hierarchy exists for human IgG subclasses: IgG3>IgG1>IgG2>IgG4.

Antibody immunological functions can be studied in a variety of ways. For instance, Western blots are used to identify antigen-specific binding based on size of separated proteins, while the standard enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) is used to produce quantitative information about antibody titers within serum. Antibody surface binding studies are used to determine whether antibody in serum are able to recognize antigens on the surface of intact bacteria, an important indicator of whether the antibodies have the potential to work in vivo. Thus, one skilled in the art recognizes that antibody binding assays such as a Western blot, ELISA (e.g., using human antisera), and/or surface binding correlate positively with the specifically-bound antigens providing immunological activity against microbial infection. However, one skilled in the art further recognizes that a lack of antibody binding in an assay such as, for example, a Western blot, ELISA, or surface binding assay does not mean that the assayed antigen fails to provide immunological activity against microbial infection.

Antibodies can mediate bacterial death by blocking the acquisition of nutrients or initiating complement-mediated membrane perforation that leads to osmotic lysis. Bactericidal antibodies can be assayed by mixing serum with live cultures and measuring for the presence of viable bacteria under appropriate conditions known to those skilled in the art. Techniques such as opsonophagocytosis assays (OPA), in which antibody and complement-bound bacteria are combined with human or mouse phagocytes to determine levels of bacterial killing, are useful for studying antibody function. A similar oxidative burst assay can be used to assess the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by fresh human or mouse neutrophils following interaction with antibody and complement-bound bacteria.

In some cases, one can determine that a protein described herein possesses cell-mediated immunological activity against a gram negative microbe and, therefore, the protein may exhibit immunological activity in the absence of inducing the production of antibodies. Cytotoxic or CD8 T cells primarily kill infected cells directly through various effector mechanisms, while helper CD4 T cells function to provide important signaling in the way of cytokines. These T cell classes can be further subdivided based on the cytokines they produce, and different subclasses are effective against different bacterial pathogens. T cells are often studied by assessing their phenotypes with flow cytometry, where antibodies are used to visualize the levels of specific surface markers that enable classification of the T cells as, for example, a recently activated CD4⁺ T cell, a memory CD8⁺ T cell, etc. In addition, cytokines and other products of T cells can be studied by isolating the T cells from lymphoid tissue and restimulating them with cognate antigen. Following antigen stimulation the T cells produce cytokines that may be visualized by, for example, intracellular cytokine staining coupled with flow cytometry, or collecting the cell supernatants and using Luminex bead technology to measure 15-25 cytokines simultaneously.

Thus, in addition to animal models, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that immunological activity commensurate with the methods described herein may correlate with any one or more of the following: Western blot data showing that serum from animals exposed to a microbial pathogen contains antibody that specifically binds to a protein described herein, Western blot data showing that serum from animals exposed to protein described herein contains antibody that specifically binds to a gram negative microbe, cell surface binding assays demonstrating that antibody that specifically binds to a protein described herein specifically binds to a gram negative microbe, opsonophagocytosis data, and cytokine induction.

Also provided is a method for detecting antibody that specifically binds proteins described herein. These methods are useful in, for instance, detecting whether an animal has antibody that specifically binds a protein described herein, and diagnosing whether an animal may have a condition caused by a microbe expressing proteins that share epitopes with the proteins described herein. Such diagnostic systems may be in kit form. The methods include contacting an antibody with a preparation that includes a protein described herein to result in a mixture. The antibody may be present in a biological sample, for instance, blood, milk, or colostrum. The method further includes incubating the mixture under conditions to allow the antibody to specifically bind the protein to form a protein:antibody complex. As used herein, the term “protein:antibody complex” refers to the complex that results when an antibody specifically binds to a protein. The preparation that includes the proteins described herein may also include reagents, for instance a buffer, that provide conditions appropriate for the formation of the protein:antibody complex. The protein:antibody complex is then detected. The detection of antibodies is known in the art and can include, for instance, immunofluorescence or peroxidase. The methods for detecting the presence of antibodies that specifically bind to proteins described herein can be used in various formats that have been used to detect antibody, including radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Kits

Also provided are kits. In one embodiment, a kit is for detecting antibody that specifically binds a protein described herein. The antibody detected may be obtained from an animal suspected of having an infection caused by a gram negative microbe. In another embodiment, a kit is for detecting a protein described herein. In yet another embodiment, a kit is for using a protein described herein, such as using a protein to produce antibody, treat a condition, or treat an infection.

The kit includes at least one of the proteins described herein (e.g., one, at least two, at least three, etc.), or an antibody described herein in a suitable packaging material in an amount sufficient for at least one assay or use. Optionally, other reagents such as buffers and solutions are also included. For instance, a kit may also include a reagent to permit detection of an antibody that specifically binds to a protein described herein, such as a detectably labeled secondary antibody designed to specifically bind to an antibody obtained from an animal. Instructions for use of the packaged antibody or protein are also typically included. As used herein, the phrase “packaging material” refers to one or more physical structures used to house the contents of the kit. The packaging material is constructed by routine methods, generally to provide a sterile, contaminant-free environment. The packaging material may have a label which indicates that the proteins can be used for detecting antibody that specifically binds a protein described herein, or using a protein described herein. In addition, the packaging material contains instructions indicating how the materials within the kit are employed to detect the antibody or administer a protein to an animal. As used herein, the term “package” refers to a container such as glass, plastic, paper, foil, and the like, capable of holding within fixed limits the proteins, and other reagents, for instance a secondary antibody. Thus, for example, a package can be a microtiter plate well to which microgram quantities of proteins have been affixed. A package can also contain a secondary antibody. “Instructions for use” typically include a tangible expression describing the reagent concentration or at least one assay method parameter, such as the relative amounts of reagent and sample to be admixed, maintenance time periods for reagent/sample admixtures, temperature, buffer conditions, and the like.

The present invention is illustrated by the following examples. It is to be understood that the particular examples, materials, amounts, and procedures are to be interpreted broadly in accordance with the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth herein.

Example 1 Selection and Preparation of Type Strains

Pasteurella multocida strains X-73, P-1059 and P-1662 are reference strains for serotype A:1, A:3 and A:4, respectively. Serotypes A:1, A:3, and A:4 are also referred to as serotypes 1, 3, and 4, respectively. Each of these strains was obtained from the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) (Ames, Iowa) as a lyophilized culture. The cultures were resuspended in sterile saline, streaked for isolation using a sterile inoculating loop onto trypticase soy agar(TSA)+5% sheep blood (Becton Dickenson, Sparks Md.), and incubated overnight at 37° C. Several isolated colonies were picked from the plate with a sterile inoculating loop and transferred to a cryobank tube (Copan diagnostics, Murrietta Calif.) containing polystyrene beads for the purpose of cryopreservation. The cryobank tubes were then stored at <−60° C.

Example 2 Preparation of Pasteurella multocida Isolate

A Pasteurella multocida, serotype 3×4 was originally isolated from the liver and lungs of a 44 week old turkey breeder hen under natural field conditions showing clinical signs of Pasteurellosis. The isolate was plated on a tryptic soy agar (TSA) plus 5% sheep blood. After initial isolation, the organism was passed 5 times in non-animal-based Trypticase Soy Broth (naTSB) (EM Science, Darmstadt, Germany) (supplemented with 18 μg/ml 2,2′ Dipyridyl (DP) (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) and 6 g/l Yeast Extract (Becton Dickenson, Sparks, Md.). Briefly, colonies were picked and inoculated into 500 ml naTSB and the culture was incubated for 16 hours and 25 minutes at 37° C. on a table-top shaker set at 105 revolutions per minute (RPM). The following morning, 25 ml of the overnight culture was transferred to 500 ml fresh naTSB and incubated for 8 hours at the same temperature and agitation. Five ml of the culture was transferred to 500 ml fresh naTSB and incubated for 15 hours in the same conditions as above. Fifty ml of this culture was transferred to 500 ml fresh naTSB and incubated in the same manner for 4 hours. Four bottles containing 900 ml naTSB each were each inoculated with 100 ml of the previous media and incubated for 3 hours and 45 minutes. The four liters of culture was aseptically dispensed into sterile 500 ml Nalgene jars and centrifuged in a Beckman model J2-21 centrifuge (Beckman Coulter, Brea Calif.) at 3500 rpm or approximately 1350×g for 20 minutes to pellet the bacterial cells. The supernatant was aseptically removed by aspiration and the cell pellets were resuspended in a total of 500 ml of naTSB containing 20% glycerol as a cryo-preservative. The cell suspension was then dispensed into 243 vials at 2 ml per vial and frozen at <−60° C. This frozen Master Seed was designated MS061130.

A working seed was prepared from the above frozen Master Seed. Briefly, 1-25 μl of the frozen seed was inoculated into 100 ml modified tryptose phosphate broth (mTPB) containing 6 g/l yeast extract. The culture was incubated for 13 hours at 37° C. on a table-top shaker until the culture reached an optical density (O.D.) of 0.6 to 0.8 on a Spectronic 20D spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) set at 540 or 630 nm. The culture was transferred, 10 ml into 90 ml mTPB with 18 μg/ml 2, 2′ dipyridyl and incubated for 2-3 hours at 37° C. with agitation. The culture was transferred and grown in the same manner two additional times as above. When the culture reached on O.D. of 0.8, the cells were centrifuged at approx. 3500 rpm for 20 minutes, the supernatant was aseptically removed by aspiration, and the culture was resuspended in the original volume of fresh mTPB. Sterile glycerol was added to reach 20% final concentration. The culture was mixed well, dispensed into sterile cryogenic vials at 2 ml per vial, and stored frozen at <−60° C.

Example 3 Production of Metal Regulated Proteins

Pasteurella multocida Type strains (X-73, P-1059, and P-1662) and the vaccine candidate strain (MS061130) of example 2 were grown in iron limiting and iron replete conditions in order to show differential membrane protein expression.

Each of the frozen type strain cultures from example 1 and the working seed isolate from example 2 were inoculated into 10 ml of porcine brain heart infusion broth (BD-Difco, Sparks Md.)+6 g yeast extract (pBHI) and incubated overnight at 37° C. with agitation. Two of the cultures did not grow directly in broth and so were first inoculated onto TSA+ blood agar plates and incubated overnight at 37° C. prior to transferring colonies to pBHI. Five ml of each overnight culture was transferred to 100 ml fresh pBHI containing either 20 μg/ml FeCl₃ or DP for iron-replete or iron-deplete conditions, respectively. The cultures were incubated at 37° C. for 7 hours and 30 minutes with agitation on a table top shaker (Barnstead, Dubuque Iowa). Bottles displayed turbidity indicating strong growth after incubation, and the cultures were then transferred, 50 ml into 500 ml of fresh pBHI containing either FeCl₃ or DP and incubated for 15 hours at 37° C., with agitation.

The cultures were processed to isolate outer membrane proteins. Briefly, the cultures were centrifuged for 20 minutes at approximately 11,000×g in a Beckman floor model centrifuge equipped with a JA-10 rotor (Beckman Coulter, Brea Calif.). The supernatant was decanted and discarded. The cell pellet was resuspended in 35 ml of Osmotic Shock Buffer (OMS) containing 7.26 grams/liter Tris-base and 0.93 grams/liter EDTA adjusted to a pH of 8.5, and the cell suspension was frozen at −80° C. for 3 hours to help weaken the cell wall structure. The cell suspension was then thawed and sonicated (Branson sonifier, model 102c) (Branson Ultrasonics, Danbury, Conn.) for 90 seconds in an ice water bath to prevent excessive heating of the disrupted cell suspension. Cell debris was removed by centrifugation at approximately 37,000×g for 20 minutes. Sodium lauroyl sarcosyl was added to the retained supernatant to reach a concentration of 3% v/v and the protein suspension was allowed to solubilize for 18-24 hours at 4° C. with slight agitation. Insoluble membrane proteins were collected by centrifugation at 37,000×g for at least two hours. The pellet was resuspended in tris buffered water and the resulting antigen was measured for protein content via the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay (Pierce BCA protein assay, ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham Mass.) according to the manufacturer instructions.

Example 4 Test for Metal Regulated Protein Pattern Coverage by SDS-Page and Analysis of Protein Banding

Cell extracts, derived from each isolate grown under iron restriction, were size-fractionated on SDS-PAGE gels using a 4% stacking gel and 10% resolving gel. Samples for electrophoresis were prepared by combining 30 μg of sample with 30 μl of SDS reducing sample buffer (62.5 mM Tris-HCL pH 6.8, 20% glycerol, 2% SDS, 5% beta-mercaptoethanol) boiled for 4 minutes. A sample of each extract was resolved on a 10% SDS-PAGE gel per standard methods and visualized by Coomassie Blue staining (FIG. 1 ). The vaccine candidate strain (MS061130) was compared to the type strains on SDS-PAGE gels. Specific attention was given to the banding patterns in the regions between 66 and 116 kDa. The vaccine candidate strain demonstrated bands overlapping with type strains, as shown in FIG. 1 , and was considered a strong candidate for further protection studies.

Example 5 Production of Metal Regulated Proteins

Two separate antigen compositions were prepared at production scale using a single Master Seed MS061130 strain of Pasteurella multocida designated as antigen A and antigen B. This was done to evaluate the consistency of the manufacturing process.

Fermentation

A cryogenic vial of the working seed of example 2 was thawed at 30-35° C. for 10-15 minutes and 0.1 ml of the thawed cell suspension was added to 250 ml of 37° C. mTPB. The culture was incubated for 6.5 hours at 37° C. on a tabletop shaker set at 70 rpm. After incubation, 25 ml of the culture was transferred to 300 ml of mTPB plus 18 μg/ml DP to restrict iron. This second culture was incubated for approximately 2 hours at 37° C. shaking at 70 rpm. The culture was transferred 250 ml into 3 liters of the above media, and the culture was incubated for approximately 3 hours at 37° C. shaking at 70 rpm until an OD of 1 was reached (as measured at 540 nm). The entire culture was used to inoculate a 130 liter fermentor (Bio-Service, Easton, Pa.) charged with 70 liters of mTPB+18 μg/ml DP and 0.5 ml/1 antifoam (MAZU DF 204 Chem/Serv, Minneapolis, Minn.). The parameters of the fermentation were as follows: Dissolved oxygen (DO) was maintained at 20% (target 15-30%) by automatic agitation control and airflow sparge set at 60 liters per minute (LPM) and 5 pounds per square inch (PSI) back pressure. The culture was incubated with agitation controlled automatically by controlling dissolved oxygen at 20%. The pH was controlled automatically between 6.9 and 7.1 by the automatic titration of 50% sodium hydroxide or 10% hydrochloric acid. The temperature was maintained at 37° C. The culture was allowed to grow in this manner for approximately 5 hours until an optical density of 4.21 at 540 nm was reached as measured by a Beckman DU600 spectrophotometer (Beckman Instruments, Fullerton, Calif.). The entire expansion culture was transferred to a 1200 liter fermentation vessel (New Brunswick Scientific, Edison, N.J.) charged with 9891 of mTPB plus DP and antifoam as listed above. The fermentation conditions were as follows: Airflow was set to 300 LPM and back pressure set at 5 PSI. Agitation was initially set to 100 RPM and then controlled by dissolved oxygen set point of 20% with a range of 15-30%. The culture was allowed to grow for another 5 hours until growth plateaued, as measured by optical density measurements being steady at approximately 2.5 at 540 nm at a 1:100 dilution for 1.5 hours. Growth was suspended by adjusting the culture pH to 8.7 and the temperature to 23° C. until harvest.

Harvest

The Bacterial Cells were Collected by Tangential Flow Filtration.

The bacterial fermentation was concentrated and washed using a Pall Filtron Tangential Flow Maxisette-25 (Pall Filtron Corporation, Northboro, Mass.) equipped with two 30 ft² Alpha 300-K open channel filters, catalog No. AS30005, (Pall Filtron) connected to a Waukesha Model U-60 feed pump (Waukesha Chemy-Burrell, Delevan, Wis.) set at about 44 Hz. The original culture volume of 1078 liters was reduced to approximately 100 liters into a process tank (Lee Industries, model 2000LBDT) using a filter inlet pressure of 30 psi and a retentate pressure of 12-14 psi. The retentate (100 liters) was adjusted to 200 liters using sterile Osmotic Shock Buffer (OMS) containing 7.26 grams/liter Tris-base and 0.93 grams/liter EDTA adjusted to a pH of 8.5. The EDTA in the OMS serves to remove LPS from the cell wall, while the elevated pH prevents much of the proteolytic degradation after freezing and disruption. Protease inhibitors may be used instead, or in addition to, an elevated pH. The retentate was concentrated back down to approximately 65 liters and the system was flushed with 20 liters of OMS. The retentate was mixed thoroughly while in the 200-liter tank using a bottom mount magnetically driven mixer.

The retentate was sterilely dispensed (3.5 liters) into sterile 4 liter NALGENE containers No. 2122 in a biosafety cabinet and placed into a −20° C. freezer for storage. Freezing the bacterial pellet serves to weaken the cell wall structure making downstream disruption more efficient. The pellet mass was calculated by centrifuging 30 ml samples of the fermented culture and final harvest. Briefly, pre-weighted 50 ml NALGENE conical tubes were centrifuged at 39,000×g for 90 minutes in a BECKMAN J2-21 centrifuge using a JA-21 rotor (Beckman Instruments, Palo Alto Calif.). At the end of the run, the supernatant was poured off and the tubes were weighed again. The pellet mass was calculated for each stage. The fermentation process yielded a wet pellet mass of 3.7 kilograms.

Alternative methods for bacterial harvest can be used. Bacterial harvest may be performed by the use of hollow fiber filter methods. Bacterial culture is harvested using filter cartridges ranging in size from 0.6 μM to 750 kDa; preferably with a 750 kDa cartridge. Culture is reduced in volume from 2-20× and subsequently washed 1-5× by diafiltration with buffer prior to storage at 4° C. or freezing at −20° C. In this manner, undesired media proteins, bacterial proteins and LPS are removed from the culture. In another alternative, bacterial harvest may be performed by the use of industrial scale centrifugation, for example, by use of a disc-stack centrifuge.

Disruption

Sixty five Liters of frozen bacterial cell slurry in OMS were thawed at 4° C. (3.7 kg of pellet mass). The liquid culture suspension from each container was aseptically aspirated into a steam in place 150 liter jacketed process tank (Lee, Model Style U). The cell suspension was disrupted by homogenization. Briefly, the 150 liter tank containing the bacterial suspension was connected to an Avestin model EF-0500B Homogenizer (Avestin, Inc. Ottawa, ON, Canada). A 250 liter jacketed process tank (empty) (Lee, Model 259LU) with a top mounted mixer (Eastern, Model TME-1/2, EMI Incorporated, Clinton, Conn.) was connected to the homogenizer such that the fluid in the process tank could be passed through the homogenizer, into the empty tank and back again, allowing for multiple homogenizing passes while still maintaining a closed system. The temperature during homogenization was kept at 4° C. At the start of the pass, fluid was circulated at 60 psi via a Waukesha model 10DO pump (Waukesha) through the homogenizer (500 gallons/hour) and back to the tank of origin, while the homogenizer pressure was adjusted to 15,000 psi. Prior to homogenization, two pre-homogenizing samples were withdrawn from the homogenizer to establish a baseline for determining the degree of disruption and monitoring of pH. The degree of disruption was monitored by transmittance (% T at 540 nm at 1:100 dilution) compared to the non-homogenized sample. The starting % T was 86.65 at a 1:100 dilution. The cell slurry was passed once through the homogenizer, and the resulting % T was 89.9 at a 1:100 dilution.

After homogenization, 1 liter Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (Hamposyl L-30, Chem Serv, Minneapolis, Minn.) was aseptically passed to the 81 liters of homogenized slurry for solubilization. The jacketed vessel removed from the homogenizer and was kept on a chiller loop at 5° C. mixing at 30% mixer speed. After 29 hours, 121 ml of formaldehyde was added as a preservative, followed by a 2 liter wash of OMS. Solubilization continued for a total of 46 hours and 16 minutes. This time period was important for complete solubilization. It was discovered that increasing the solubilization time in OMS at an elevated pH (8.0-8.5) that metal regulated proteins aggregated together forming large insoluble aggregates that were easily removed by centrifugation.

Protein Harvest

The aggregated metal regulated proteins within the solubilized process fluid were collected by centrifugation using T-1 SHARPLES, (Alfa Laval Separations, Warminster, Pa.). Briefly, the tank of solubilized homogenate was fed into twelve Sharples with a feed rate of 170 ml/minute at 11 psi. The first pass protein collected on the bowls of the Sharples was discarded. This consists of large cell debris and cell wall material. The effluent was collected into a second 250 liter jacketed process tank through a closed sterile loop allowing for multiple passes through the centrifuges while maintaining a closed system. The temperature during centrifugation was kept at 4° C. The solubilized homogenate was passed an additional 7 times across the centrifuges, at a feed rate of 150 ml/minute and a pressure of 21 PSI. Protein was collected after each pass. The protein was collected, resuspended and dispensed in 7.46 liters Tris-buffer pH 8.5. Twenty five ml of formaldehyde (Sigma) was added, to reach 0.3% concentration, as a preservative.

Alternative methods for protein harvest can be used. For example, the desired proteins can be harvested by the use of hollow fiber filter methods. Proteins can be harvested using filter cartridges ranging in size from 5 kDa to 0.2 μM; preferably with a 50 kDa to 750 kDa cartridge. Culture is reduced in volume from 2-20× and subsequently washed 1-5× by diafiltration with buffer prior to storage at 4° C. or freezing at −20° C.

Diafiltration

The protein suspension was washed by diafiltration at 4° C. to remove any contaminating sarcosine that may have been bound to the protein. Briefly, the 8640 ml of protein was sterilely aspirated into a 200 liter process tank containing 50 liters sterile Tris-buffer, pH 8.5, equipped with a bottom mount Dayton mixer, Model 2Z846 (Dayton Electric, Chicago, Ill.) rotating at 125 rev/minute. The process tank was sterilely connected to a MILLIPORE PELLICON TANGENTIAL FLOW FILTER assembly (Millipore Corporation), equipped with a 25 ft2 screen-channel series Alpha 10K Centrasette filter (Pall Filtron) connected to a Waukesha Model U30 feed pump. The 59 liter protein solution was brought to 150 liters by adding TBW, concentrated down to 35 liters, brought up to a volume of 110 liters of TBW and then concentrated down to 10.4 L final antigen volume. The protein concentrate was aseptically dispensed (3.5 liters) into sterile 4 liter NALGENE containers and placed into a −20° C. freezer for storage.

This process produced a composition containing metal regulated proteins with a decrease in the amount of LPS and very little to no sarcosine residue. The protein was examined by SDS-PAGE for purity and banding profile, and also examined for bacterial contamination, residual sarcosine and LPS. The banding profile of the finished product showed consistent patterns as examined by electrophoresis. The composition was tested for sarcosine by the use of a modified agar gel diffusion test in which sheep red blood cells (5%) were incorporated into an agar base (1.5%). Wells were cut into the agar and samples of the finished product along with control samples of known concentrations of sarcosine at 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 1.0 and 2.0% were placed into the wells. The gel was incubated at 25° C. for 24 hours and the degree of hemolysis was determined compared to the controls. The process removes the level of detectable sarcosine below 0.05%, which at this concentration showed minimal hemolysis in control samples. The concentration of LPS is examined by a Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test available under the tradename PYROTELL (Associates of Cape Cod, Inc., East Falmouth, Mass.).

Example 6 Preparation of Immunizing Compositions Derived from Pasteurella multocida

Three vaccine serials consisting of the same antigen was prepared from the Master Seed MS061130 of Example 5. Please Note: two antigen preparation representing two separate fermentation processes were used to prepare two antigen lots designated as antigen A and antigen B. Thus, The first vaccine serial was prepared using a mixture of antigen A and antigen B, the second vaccine serial was prepared only using antigen A, and the third vaccine serial was prepared using only antigen B.

The vaccine compositions consisting of antigen A, B and A+B were prepared in the following constituents: 44.44% aqueous protein suspension in 0.1% formalized saline, (standardized to 150 μg protein per chicken dose) 50% Drakeol 6 mineral oil (VOPAK USA, Inc, Kirkland, Wash.), 3.0% Span 85 and 2.56% Tween 85 (Ruger Chemicals, Hillside, N.J.). Briefly the Mineral Oil and Span 85 were combined and dispensed into a vessel equipped with a high-speed emulsifier (IKA model Process pilot 2000/4 or equivalent). Antigen, Tween 85 and 0.1% formalized saline was dispensed into a second vessel. The emulsifier was set at 60 hz, and the aqueous solution was pumped into the oil, which was pre-cooled to 7° C. The vaccine was continuously stirred as it was pumped into sterile bottles.

Example 7 Vaccination of Chickens

Leghorn type Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) chickens (Hy-Vac, Adel, Iowa) were vaccinated with the compositions of example 6. Briefly, 74 specific pathogen free (SPF) leghorn chickens were obtained at 11 weeks of age (WOA) and were allowed to acclimate for one week prior to vaccination. Birds were divided into 3 groups designated as Antigen A+B (21 Birds), Antigen A (21 birds), Antigen B (21 Birds and a group of non-vaccinated controls (11 Birds). Birds were identified by colored leg bands. At 12 WOA, all birds in groups Antigen A+B, Antigen A and Antigen B were vaccinated with 0.25 ml of the appropriate vaccine intramuscularly in the breast. A group of 11 chickens received no vaccine and served as the control group. At 15 weeks of age or twenty one days post second vaccination all vaccinated birds received a second vaccination

Example 8 Preparation and Administration of Challenge Organism

One day prior to challenge, one cryogenic bead of Pasteurella multocida, strain X-73 of example 1, was aseptically removed from the frozen stock and spread onto two TSA II plates with 5% sheep blood (Becton Dickenson) which were then streaked for isolation of colonies. The plates were incubated for 16-19 hours at 37° C. On day 14 or 14 days post second vaccination several colonies from the sheep blood agar plate were scraped from the blood plate and suspended in a sterile 13×100 test tube. Colonies were added or the suspension diluted with tryptose broth to obtain a % T of 71-75% at 630 nm using a Spectronics 20D (ThermoFisher) spectrophotometer. The suspension was serially diluted in tryptose broth to 1:100,000 dilution. This dilution was dispensed into serum vials for challenge.

Twenty chickens of each vaccinated group and 10 chickens of the control group were inoculated intramuscularly in the breast with 0.5 ml of the above diluted challenge. The extra chickens from the vaccinated and the control group were removed at this time.

Example 9 Challenge Results

The results, shown in FIG. 2 , are an average of three separate challenge studies conducted with the three serials. The term Prevented Fraction (PF) is the complement of the Risk Ratio (RR) and has long been used by epidemiologists as an expression of the preventative role of a protective factor, or the preventative success of an implemented program of intervention (Miettinen, 1974, Am J Epidemiol 99: 325-332) (Field Epidemiology, Oxford University Press, 2002, pp 147-′7). Prevented Fraction PF=1−p2/p1, where p2=affected fraction in the vaccinated group, and p1=affected fraction in the unvaccinated or placebo group. Veterinary fowl cholera vaccines are expected to routinely demonstrate a PF of 53% or greater, preferably 62.5% or greater Vaccines that demonstrate a PF of less than 53% demonstrate protection.

Table 1 presents mortality data from FIG. 2 and the calculations for Prevented Fraction for Antigen B of FIG. 2 . Vaccine efficacy or prevented fraction was calculated to be 30%, indicating that vaccination prevented 30% of the cases that might have otherwise occurred among vaccinated birds had they not been vaccinated. These calculations were repeated for antigens A and A+B to obtain the prevented fraction for each vaccine.

TABLE 1 DEAD NOT DEAD TOTAL RISK Vaccinated 40%  60% 100% 40% Antigen B Not Vaccinated 57%  43% 100% 57% TOTAL 97% 103% Relative Risk = 40/57 = .70 or 70% Vaccine Efficacy = (57 − 40)/57 = 0.3 or 30%

The difference between vaccinates and controls are significant (p<0.05) for two of the three vaccinate groups, but the prevented fraction was 53%, 30%, and 44% for antigen 1, antigen 2, and the combined antigen, respectively. While the vaccine met the 53% PF level in one case, it could not be demonstrated consistently, and therefore is inadequately effective for a commercial fowl cholera vaccine. Based upon the banding profiles observed in example 4, we expected very good protection. Unfortunately, the protection observed was less than expected. These unexpected results suggest that bands visually appearing to overlap on a SDS-PAGE gel as shown in FIG. 1 are not enough to confer the desired protection level.

Example 10 Known Genome Analysis

Current known genomes were surveyed for potential metal regulated proteins. Several strains of Pasteurella multocida have full or partial genome sequences available in the public domain. The Universal Protein Resource (Uniprot) is a comprehensive resource for protein sequence and annotation data. At the time of the search, the full or partial sequence data of serotype 1 reference strain X-73 and the serotype 3 reference strain P-1059 were present in this database. For each of these organisms, we searched the database for all proteins having molecular weights between 50 kilodaltons and 150 kilodaltons that had any annotation reference to iron uptake. The identified proteins were organized into a table (FIG. 3 ), where those of different strains having a similarity of greater than or equal to 95% were grouped together. Fourteen distinct proteins were identified among these strains.

The proteins were compared to expressed metal regulated proteins of the previous vaccine candidate (MS061130) as identified by MALDI-TOF analysis. There were eight proteins that appeared to be absent from the vaccine candidate, but were identified in additional genomes of other Pasteurella multocida strains derived from avian species. (See FIGS. 3 and 4 ).

These results demonstrated that our vaccine candidate (MS061130) was potentially missing 7 desirable proteins that were identified by genomic analysis of additional strains of Pasteurella. This same observation was seen in the analysis of the genome of the challenge strain that was used in example 9 which also had the seven protein subset that was not present in the MS061130 vaccine candidate. Thus, the vaccine strain described in Examples 6-9 was missing 7 proteins that were present in the challenge strain (FIG. 3 ). The Venn diagram in FIG. 4 illustrates the number of proteins present in relevant challenge strains P1059 and X73 that are not present in the vaccine strain MS061130. These observations led us to hypothesize that a combination of two or more strains with comprehensive siderophore receptor coverage of the seven protein subset would provide a higher degree of protective efficacy as well show cross protection independent of serotype.

Example 11 Comparison of Iron-Restricted Protein Banding Patterns in Wild and Type Strains of Pasteurella multocida

In order to more fully understand metal regulated proteins in Pasteurella, thirty three type strains and clinical field strains of Pasteurella multocida were grown in iron-restricted medium and processed to purify membrane bound proteins in the manner of example 3. The resulting protein compositions were analyzed for metal regulated protein banding patterns on Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-poly-acrylimide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gels (Criterion TGX Stain-free gels, Bio-Rad laboratories, Hercules, Calif.). The individual lanes were compared and grouped using Phoretix 1D, a 1-dimensional gel analysis program (TotalLab, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK). A dendogram was created with Phoretix 1D software showing banding pattern similarities as illustrated in FIG. 5 . The analysis of the type strains and clinical field isolates revealed two predominant patterns of expressed metal regulated proteins; a four-band pattern as marked by the brackets [ ], and a three-band pattern as shown by braces{ }. Other strains appear to have variations on these two patterns, missing one or two protein bands.

Example 12 Analysis of Proteins by MALDI-TOF

Thirteen isolates were chosen from example 11 as representative of the various band patterns observed in FIG. 5 . Each protein band in the molecular weight range of 75,000 to 115,000 from these thirteen isolates of example 11 were excised from the SDS-PAGE gels for protein identification analysis via Matrix Assisted Laser Desorbtion Time of Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and peptide mass fingerprinting. The peptide masses were compared to a database (Uniprot, in this case) containing known protein sequences of the genome. This was achieved by using computer programs that translate the known genome of the organism into proteins, then theoretically cut the proteins into peptides, and calculate the absolute masses of the peptides from each protein. They then compare the masses of the peptides of the unknown protein to the theoretical peptide masses of each protein encoded in the genome. The results are statistically analyzed to find the best match. The identities of these proteins were grouped in a greater than 93 percent similarity and the results are shown in the table in FIG. 6 . A total of 38 bands from the 13 isolates were analyzed and were identified to be one of seven proteins as indicated by their molecular weight in FIG. 6 . Two of the isolates (1121 and 1135, indicated by the ellipse in FIG. 6 ), when combined, expressed all seven protein bands. These two strains were chosen for a new combination vaccine because together they expressed all the proteins of the remaining eleven isolates in FIG. 6 , and also were representative of the two major banding patterns identified in FIG. 5 .

Example 13 Pasteurella Culture Seed Preparation

Master seed stocks of Pasteurella multocida strains 1121 and 1135 from example 12 and FIG. 6 were prepared. Strain 1121 was identified to be serotype 3×4 and strain 1135 was identified to be serotype 2×5. These isolates were isolated from turkeys that had died from avian Pasteurellosis. Typically, the liver or lung was swabbed and the resulting swab was streaked to 5% sheep blood agar plate and incubated at 37° C. for 24 hours. A Master Seed was prepared by inoculating the isolate into pBHI containing 6 g/l yeast extract and 12 ug/ml DP. The culture was then successively transferred into the above media with 18 μg/ml DP for five more passes to adapt the organisms to an iron-restricted environment and to maximize growth and expression of desired proteins. The cultures were concentrated by centrifugation for 30 minutes at 7,000 rpm (Beckman Coultier, Brea, Calif.) and resuspended in fresh pBHI containing 20% glycerol (as a cryoprotectant) but no DP. The resulting Master Seeds were aliquoted in 2.2 ml volumes into 3 ml cryovials and stored at or below −60° Celsius. The isolates were given the identification numbers PM1121 20140911 and PM1135 20140925 and established as Master Seeds MS1121 and MS1135, respectively. The Master Seeds were then expanded into working seeds that were used for the production of metal regulated proteins.

Example 14 Production of Metal Regulated Proteins

Pasteurella multocida can be grown under controlled fermentation conditions so as to express proteins, including proteins associated with the outer membrane. The bacteria can then be harvested and the proteins isolated, purified, and used as immunogens in a composition.

Fermentation:

A cryogenic vial of the working seed of strain 1135 (1 ml at 10⁹ CFU/ml) of example 13 was used to inoculate 300 ml of 37° C. modified porcine brain heart infusion media (pBHI) (BD Difco) containing 6 g/l yeast extract (BD). The culture was incubated at 35-38° C. while shaking at 30-400 rpm for 5 hours, at which point was transferred to 1500 ml of modified pBHI containing 22 ug/ml DP to restrict available iron. The culture was incubated at 37° C. for 2 hours and 38 minutes until it reached an optical density greater than or equal to 0.6. The entire culture was transferred to 15 liters of modified pBHI plus 22 ug/ml DP in an 18 liter flask. This culture was incubated for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes and reached an optical density of 0.75 at 540 nm. The culture was then transferred to a 300 liter fermentor containing 270 liters of modified pBHI with 22 μg DP to maintain iron restriction, and 40 ml per liter of a 50% glucose solution as a carbon source. The culture was incubated at 35-38° C. with agitation controlled by dissolved oxygen content which was maintained at or above 30%. The culture grew to an optical density, as measured by a Beckman series 600 spectrophotometer, of approximately 5.4. At the end of fermentation, the culture pH was adjusted above 8.5 and the temperature adjusted at or below 15° C.

Harvest of Whole Cells:

The whole cell bacterial suspension was concentrated to approximately 1/10 volume by tangential flow filtration with a Pall Filtron Tangential Flow Maxisette-25 (Pall Filtron) equipped with two 30 ft² Alpha 300-K open channel filters, catalog No. AS30005, (Pall Filtron) connected to a Waukesha Model U-60 feed pump (Waukesha Chemy-Burrell, Delevan, Wis.) set at about 44 Hz. The culture was further washed with Tris-buffered saline, and then concentrated to ˜45 liters of whole cell suspension. A subsample of the cell suspension was dried and weighed to yield a final dried pellet weight. The final whole cell suspension was then frozen at −20°.

Whole Cell Disruption.

The whole cell suspension was thawed at 5-7° C. for 3 days. Individual containers of whole cell were pooled and mixed in a sterile tank equipped with a mixer set at 40%. The liquid cell suspension was disrupted by homogenization. Briefly, the suspended whole cell was passed twice through an Avestin homogenizer, model Emulsiflix C500B, (Avestin, Inc., Ottawa, Canada) at a pressure of 15,000-18,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) until a 1:100 dilution of homogenate reached 80 percent transparency (% T at 540 nm) on a Beckman series 600 Spectrophotometer (Beckman instruments, Brea, Calif.). A second process tank was connected to the homogenizer such that the fluid could be passed back and forth through the homogenizer for multiple passes while maintaining a closed system. Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (Hamposyl L-30, Chattem Chemicals, Chattanooga, Tenn.) was added at 3% volume/volume to the disrupted cell homogenate to solubilize the cell membrane and non-membrane proteins. Solubilization continued for approximately 72 hours at 2-7° C. Cell debris was removed by centrifugation utilizing a Sharples Ti continuous centrifuge set at 11 PSI.

Protein Harvest:

The protein suspension was washed with 800 liters of Tris-buffered water (TBW) (pH 7.4) containing 0.2% formalin by continuous wash tangential flow filtration (Maxisette 300 kDa filter, Pall corp, NY, N.Y.). The protein was further washed with 100 liter of TBW containing formalin and 10% ethanol. Following the ethanol wash, the protein suspension was further washed with 200 liters of TBW plus formalin (0.2%) to remove the ethanol. When the remaining TBW was washed from the system, the volume was reduced by continued filtration until the final antigen volume was approximately 20 liters. The final antigen lot 1135-A0001 was then inactivated with the 0.2% formalin with continuous mixing at 33° C. for 93 hours.

The working seed of strain 1121 was used to prepare antigen lot 1121-A0001 in the same manner as strain 1135.

Example 15

Preparation of Vaccine

The antigens prepared in Example 14 were used to prepare two 20 liter water in oil vaccines with 50% mineral oil as adjuvant and tween/span emulsifier as described in example 6. Briefly, 10,145 ml of Drakeol 6 mineral oil and 609 ml Span 85, as an emulsifier, were added to a sterile vessel equipped with a Silverson model 150UHSLS mixer (Silverson Machines, East Longmeadow, Mass.). The mixer was set to 52 hz and the adjuvant phase recirculation was set at 2.5 liters per minute. The aqueous phase ingredients were added to a second vessel: Tween 85 (517 ml), 540 ml of antigen lot 1121-A0001, 1420 ml of antigen lot 1135-A0001 and 7010 ml of phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4,—was slowly added over the course of 20 minutes. The vaccines were formulated to contain 100 μg total antigen (50 ug from each strain) per 0.25 ml dose, and 200 μg total antigen (100 μg of each strain), respectively. These two antigens, combined, represent the 7 proteins, of example 12 and FIG. 6 , required for increased heterologous serotype protection.

Example 16

Vaccination and Challenge Model

The vaccines prepared in example 15 was used in a vaccination challenge model against type 1 challenge in SPF chickens. Briefly, 60 SPF leghorn chickens, both males and females, were obtained from Valo BioMedia (Adel, Iowa). The chickens were sorted by sex, and divided into three groups of 20 birds of mixed hens and roosters, each group with equal numbers of males and females. The birds were identified by numbered wing bands; each bird received identical numbers on the left and right wing to preserve identity. One group was vaccinated with 0.25 ml of the 200 μg vaccine of example 14. A second group was vaccinated with 0.25 ml of the 100 μg vaccine of example 14. A third group was vaccinated with a placebo containing the oil adjuvant in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) in place of the antigen. All birds were vaccinated subcutaneously in the back of the neck at 12 and 15 weeks of age, and all birds were challenged intramuscular in the breast at 17 weeks of age with approximately 6,000 cfu of the serotype 1 challenge strain X-73 prepared in the manner of example 8. The results of the study are shown in FIG. 7 . It is clear that the level of protection is vastly improved with a preventive fraction of 69 and 75 percent and a p-value of 0.001 and <0.0004 for the 100 μg and 200 μg vaccinated groups, respectively. These results clearly show that the combination of two antigens, expressing all seven proteins of FIG. 6 , confer increased prevented fraction against heterologous challenge in a chicken vaccination and challenge model.

Example 17 Zinc and Respiratory Pathogens

In our previous research (data not shown) we have shown that many gram-negative pathogens express a novel protein under zinc restriction. An abundance of these bacteria are respiratory pathogens. Some of these pathogens include Moraxella catarrhalis, Haemophilus parasuis, Mannheimia haemolytica, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella pertussis, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (Stork et al. PLoS Pathogens, 6(7), e1000969 2010). It has been reported that this Zinc acquisition protein is a transmembrane beta-barrel protein now identified as ZnuD located in the outer cell wall that utilizes a single surface exposed loop containing two cysteines that when brought together by a disulfide linkage forms a cluster of histidines that can interact with a zinc ion (Stork et al., PLoS Pathogens, 6(7), e1000969. 2010). ZnuD thereby acts as a scavenger protein used for the acquisition of zinc sequestered by the host organism.

All these ZnuD homologs contain His- and Asp-rich regions that have been identified in the binding of zinc. This suggests that zinc acquisition mechanisms are important for bacteria residing in the respiratory tract. The current explanation is that unbound zinc concentration within the mucosal tract is too low to allow for simple diffusion across the bacterial membrane via porin proteins (Stork et al., PLoS Pathogens, 6(7), e1000969 2010). Thereby, proteins such as ZnuD are required to scavenge for zinc. This scavenging not only includes unbound zinc, but also the stripping of sequestered zinc from proteins such as calprotectin (Liu et al., Cell host & microbe, 11(3), pp 227-239. 2012). This theory has been supported by the detection of convalescent antibodies towards ZnuD from healthy carriers, which allows the assumption that ZnuD is expressed by bacteria that reside in the respiratory tract (Stork et al., PLoS Pathogens, 6(7), e1000969. 2010). The goal of this experiment was to identify, clone and evaluate the efficacy of a zinc acquisition protein of Pasteurella multocida. If a ZnuD homolog is expressed in Pasteurella multocida, it offers another possible target for vaccine development currently unexplored for controlling this respiratory pathogen.

Example 18 Genomic Sequencing of Pasteurella multocida P-1059

The isolate of Pasteurella multocida used for this study was reference strain P-1059 of example 1. The genomic DNA was isolated from the Pasteurella multocida isolate using the Invitrogen by Life Technologies ChargeSwitch gDNA Mini Bacteria Kit (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif., product number: CS11301). Prior to extraction of genomic DNA, a fresh culture of the isolate was grown on Trypticase Soy Agar II with 5% Sheep Blood (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, N.J., product code: 221261) overnight at 37° C. The procedure followed the manufacturer protocol. The final yield was 33.7 μg of genomic DNA, which was stored at −20° C. until sequencing. The genomic DNA was submitted to ACGT, Inc. for sequencing (Wheeling, Ill.). Genbank reference sequences CP004752 and CP004753 were used in the assembly of the complete genomic sequence of the isolate.

Example 19 Possible Target Genes

After receiving the complete genomic sequence of the isolate, tblastn alignments were performed with the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database to identify the possible genes of interest based on homology towards ZnuD (GenBank AAF62323.1). A blastx search was used to identify the proteins translated by the homologous genes found with the tblastn alignment. Pairwise sequence alignments of the identified ZnuD homologues and ZnuD zinc affinity region were performed using EMBOSS Matcher (Rice et al., Trends in genetics, 16(6), pp 276-277. 2000).).

Example 20 Expression of a Zinc Acquisition Protein

To identify the zinc acquisition protein of Pasteurella multocida we used the sequence of the zinc acquisition protein of Mannheimia haemolytica previously identified in our laboratory. Briefly, the expression of the target protein was evaluated by supplementing Bacto Brain Heart Infusion, Porcine culture medium (BHI) (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, N.J., product code: 256110) used for bacterial cell growth with TPEN (Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Portland, Oreg., product code: T1487). A titration of TPEN over a range of 0-100 μM during bacterial growth was used. The BHI media containing the various concentrations of TPEN were inoculated with a starter culture of the isolate in BHI containing no TPEN. The inoculum volume was 1 percent of the total volume of the final culture. The cultures were allowed to grow with vigorous agitation at 37° C. to an OD₅₄₀ of 1.0, unless bacteria were unable to grow at certain concentrations.

Once an OD of 1.0 was obtained, the bacteria were pelleted by centrifugation at 7,000×g for 10 minutes. An outer membrane preparation was performed on the pelleted bacteria to isolate the integral membrane proteins within the outer membrane following a procedure described by (Molloy et al., European Journal of Biochemistry, 267(10), pp 2871-2881. 2000) with modifications. The bacteria pellet was re-suspended in 30 ml of 60 mM Tris-HCl (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo., product code: T3253) and 2.5 mM EDTA (EMD, Billerica, Mass., product code: EX0539-3), pH 8.5. The bacteria were then lysed by sonication using a Sonifier S-450A analog ultrasonic processor with a ½″ diameter Tipped Bio-Horn attached to a102-C converter (Branson Ultrasonics Corporation, Danbury, Conn., product code: 101-063-198, 101-47-037, and 101-135-066 respectively) for 1 minute and 30 seconds on ice at a power setting of 9 and a duty cycle of 90. The sample was clarified by centrifugation at 39,000×g and 4° C. for 20 minutes to remove large cell debris. To remove the inner membrane, peptidoglycan, and proteins not found within the outer membrane, Hamposyl L-30 (Chattem Chemicals, Inc., Chattanooga, Tenn., product code: BD2099) was added to the supernatant at a final concentration of 1% and incubated for 16 hours at 4° C. while rocking end-over-end. The outer membrane was pelleted by centrifugation at 39,000×g and 4° C. for 2 hours. The outer membrane pellet was washed and re-suspended in 25 mM Tris-HCl buffered water, pH 7.2.

The integral membrane proteins were visualized by SDS-PAGE. Prior to the electrophoresis, a BCA (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Rockford, Ill., product code: 23225) was performed to quantify the protein within each sample as to allow for equivalent protein loads of 30 μg. Samples were brought up to equal volume prior to the addition of 3× loading buffer (New England BioLabs Inc., Ipswich, Mass., product number: B7703S). The samples were compared on the gel to look for expression of the target protein.

Example 21 Protein Identification

The banding profile from the outer membrane preparation was analyzed by Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI) to determine if any of the bands of interest match the genes identified by BLAST homology. The bands were cut out of the gel with a scalpel and sent to the Mayo Clinic Proteomics Core facility to be analyzed.

Example 22 Structure Modeling

Swiss Model was used to create a 3-D structural model of zinc acquisition protein of Mannheimia haemolytica based on homology sequencing (Arnold et al., Bioinformatics, (22), pp 195-201. 2006).). The PDB template used to create the protein model was 4epaA. The extracellular loop (ECL) sequence positions were identified using the 3-D structural model obtained from Swiss Model (Arnold et al., Bioinformatics, (22), pp 195-201. 2006).), Prediction of TransMembrane Beta-Barrel Proteins (Bagos et al., BMC Bioinformatics, 5(29). 2004).), Orientations of Proteins in Membranes (OMP) database and Positioning of Proteins in Membranes (PPM) server (Lomize et al., Nucleic Acids Res, 40(Database issue):D370-6. 2012).

Example 23 Target Gene Identification

Once the proteins within the banding profile were identified, they were compared to the proteins of interest identified by BLAST homology. One protein within the banding profile matched a protein identified by the BLAST homology. The protein was identified as OMR family outer membrane iron receptor (GenBank: EDN73812.1) also referred to as the zinc acquisition protein in this paper. The target gene was located at nucleotides 1,160,319 . . . 1,162,691 within the genome. The signal peptide was identified using SignalP 4.1 (Petersen et al., Nature methods, 8(10), pp 785-786. 2011)). The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the zinc acquisition protein identified in Pasteurella multocida is shown in FIG. 22 .

Example 24 The Homology of the Zinc Acquisition Protein Across Respiratory Pathogens

Using the sequence of the acquisition protein of Mannheimia haemolytica (data not shown) the homology of zinc acquisition protein across respiratory pathogens, particularly the zinc affinity region, was determined with the protein blast search tool established by NCBI. Ten different species of bacteria were found to contain a zinc acquisition protein homologue with greater than 49% identity. All species identified are respiratory pathogens. Aligning the homologous proteins to the zinc affinity region of ZAP using Clustal Omega highlights strikingly similar amino acid motifs. All the homologues contain two cysteines and multiple histidines and aspartic acids. The amino acid motifs are emphasized in FIG. 25 using GLAM2. The spatial arrangement of the cysteines, histidines, and aspartic acids remain constant across the homologues.

TABLE 2 Strain Accession Number % Identity % Similarity Bibersteinia trehalosi AHG81836.1 98 97 Actinobacillus WP_005612269.1 93 95 pleuropneumoniae Mannheimia WP_027074597.1 75 82 granulomatis Mannheimia varigena AHG73391.1 72 79 Haemophilus parasuis WP_021114857.1 62 78 Moraxella boevrei WP_026212957.1 53 69 Psychrobacter WP_028858792.1 54 69 phenylpyruvicus Pasteurella multocida WP_016534590.1 58 72 Moraxella bovoculi KDN24548.1 52 67 Conchiformibius steedae WP_027021676.1 49 64 The results show that multiple respiratory pathogens indeed show a degree of homology to the zinc acquisition protein of Mannheimia Haemolytica ranging from 49 to 98 percent identity.

Example 25 Expression and Identification of a Zinc Acquisition Protein

Cloning

The Pasteurella multocida zinc gene was PCR amplified from genomic DNA of strain P-1059 and inserted into plasmid vector pQE-T7-2 (Qiagen; Hilden, Germany) using Gibson assembly methods. The assembled plasmid was then transformed in to NEB T7 Express Competent E. coli (New England Biolabs; Ipswitch, Mass.; catalog #C2566H) for clonal selection and expression.

Expression

A starter culture of LB broth containing 50 μg/mL kanamycin was inoculated with a clone containing the recombinant plasmid. Culture was grown to an OD540 of 0.6 and then transferred to fresh LB broth. The new culture was allowed to grow again to an OD540 of 0.6. Expression was then induced with 1 mM IPTG and incubated an additional 16 hours. The cells were collected by centrifugation and stored at −80° C. until processing.

Inclusion Body Purification

Cells were thawed and resuspended in BugBuster Protein Extraction Reagent (Merck Millipore; Billerica, Mass.; catalog #70584-4). 10 μL of Lysonase Bioprocessing Reagent (Merck Millipore; Billerica, Mass.; catalog #71230) was added and the suspension was incubated for 1 hour at ambient temperature. The suspension was then sonicated (Branson Sonifier, model 102c; Branson Ultrasonics, Danbury, Conn.) for 30 seconds using a micro tip, output 6, at a 90% duty cycle. The lysate was centrifuged at 16000×g for 20 minutes to collect the insoluble material. The pellet was washed three times: first with BugBuster, second with 1/10× BugBuster, and third with tris-buffered water. The inclusion body prep was solubilized in tris-buffered saline containing 8 M urea and 1 mM dithiothreitol at pH 8.0, yielding 10 mg recombinant protein. FIG. 24 shows the different stages of expression of the zinc acquisition protein run on a 10% Criterion stain free-free TGX Gel run at 300V (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.) to include: the un-induced whole cell preparation, the induced whole cell preparation, the lysed cell supernatant, 1× bugbuster wash, 1/10× bugbuster wash, the solubilized inclusion bodies and the pellet post solubilization.

Example 26 Vaccine-Mediated Protection of a Novel Recombinant Zinc Protein of Pasteurella multocida in a Chicken Sepsis Model

The purpose of the following experimental study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of a recombinant zinc protein (rZinc) against a virulent challenge of Pasteurella multocida in a chicken sepsis model. The efficacy of the rZinc protein of example 25 was compared to the efficacy of the Pasteurella multocida SRP extract composition of example 14 compared to non-vaccinated controls. Briefly, 30 SPF leghorn chickens, (males), were obtained from Valo BioMedia (Adel, Iowa). The chickens divided into three groups of 10 birds each. The birds were identified by colored leg bands. Treatment groups were designated as Group-A (Placebo), Group-B (rZinc protein) and Group C (Pasteurella multocida protein extract). The outcome parameter used to evaluate vaccine efficacy in this experiment was total mortality between vaccinates compared to the non-vaccinated Placebo group. Food and water was supplied ad libitum to all chickens.

Example 27 Preparation of the Immunizing Compositions

The vaccines (SRP extract and rZinc) were prepared from the protein compositions of examples 14 and 25 by diluting the antigen into phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 8.0 g/l NaCl, 0.2 g/l KCl, 1.44 g/l Na₂HPO₄ and 0.24 g/l KH₂PO₄ pH 7.4. Each vaccine was prepared by emulsifying the following ingredients: 44.44% aqueous protein suspension in 0.1% formalized saline, 50% Drakeol 6 mineral oil (VOPAK USA, Inc, Kirkland, Wash.), 3.0% Span 85 and 2.56% Tween 85 (Ruger Chemicals, Hillside, N.J.). The final bird dose for each vaccine composition (rZinc and SRP extract) was 250 μg and 400 μg administered in a volume of 0.5 ml and 0.25 ml respectively. The placebo was prepared by replacing the antigen with physiological saline and emulsifying the suspension using the above formulation in a dose volume of 0.5 ml. All birds were vaccinated subcutaneously at 14 and 17 weeks of age (21-day interval).

Example 28 Challenge and Results

At 19 weeks of age all birds were challenged intramuscularly in the breast with 5450 Colony Forming Units (CFU) of Pasteurella multocida (serotype 1) strain X-73 prepared as described example 8. Birds were observed for mortality for 14 days following challenge. The results clearly demonstrate the efficacy of both the Pasteurella multocida SRP Extract and the rZinc vaccines having a percent survival of 100% and 50% respectively, in contrast to the non-vaccinated controls having no survivors (FIG. 23 ). The recombinant zinc protein in this study was evaluated at a single concentration of 250 μg, showing a 50% survival rate (p=0.0325) against a virulent challenge.

The complete disclosure of all patents, patent applications, and publications, and electronically available material (including, for instance, nucleotide sequence submissions in, e.g., GenBank and RefSeq, and amino acid sequence submissions in, e.g., SwissProt, PIR, PRF, PDB, and translations from annotated coding regions in GenBank and RefSeq) cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Supplementary materials referenced in publications (such as supplementary tables, supplementary figures, supplementary materials and methods, and/or supplementary experimental data) are likewise incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that any inconsistency exists between the disclosure of the present application and the disclosure(s) of any document incorporated herein by reference, the disclosure of the present application shall govern. The foregoing detailed description and examples have been given for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described, for variations obvious to one skilled in the art will be included within the invention defined by the claims. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, molecular weights, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. All numerical values, however, inherently contain a range necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

All headings are for the convenience of the reader and should not be used to limit the meaning of the text that follows the heading, unless so specified. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising: (i) an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 25-968 of SEQ ID NO:2, an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 27-790 of SEQ ID NO:4, and an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 23-727 of SEQ ID NO:6 or (ii) an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 25-964 of SEQ ID NO:8, an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 26-848 of SEQ ID NO:10, an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 27-784 of SEQ ID NO:12, and an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 25-742 of SEQ ID NO:14; a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and an adjuvant.
 2. A composition comprising an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 26-805 of SEQ ID NO:44.
 3. The composition of claim 1 further comprising: at least one isolated protein having a molecular weight of 249 kDa, 60 kDa, 42 kDa, 38 kDa, 27 kDa, 26 kDa, or 22 kDa, wherein the proteins are isolatable from the P. multocida.
 4. A composition comprising: (i) an isolated whole cell that is engineered to express at least seven proteins, wherein the seven proteins comprise a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 25-968 of SEQ ID NO:2, a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 27-790 of SEQ ID NO:4, a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 23-727 of SEQ ID NO:6, a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 25-964 of SEQ ID NO:8, a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 26-848 of SEQ ID NO:10, a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 27-784 of SEQ ID NO:12, and a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 25-742 of SEQ ID NO:14, or (ii) two or more populations of microbes wherein each of the population expresses a subset of the seven proteins listed in (i), and the two or more populations when considered as a whole express the seven proteins.
 5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the cell is E. coli.
 6. The composition of claim 4 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 7. The composition of claim 6 further comprising an adjuvant.
 8. The composition of claim 4 wherein the two or more populations of microbes comprise a first population and a second population, wherein the first population comprises an isolated whole cell that is engineered to express a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 25-968 of SEQ ID NO:2, a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 27-790 of SEQ ID NO:4, and a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 23-727 of SEQ ID NO:6; and wherein the second population comprises an isolated whole cell that is engineered to express a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 25-964 of SEQ ID NO:8, a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 26-848 of SEQ ID NO:10, a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 27-784 of SEQ ID NO:12, and a protein having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 25-742 of SEQ ID NO:14.
 9. The composition of claim 4, wherein the isolated cell or the two populations of microbes are engineered to further express 80% amino acid sequence identity to amino acids 26-805 of SEQ ID NO:44.
 10. The composition of claim 1 further comprising an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 26-805 of SEQ ID NO:44.
 11. The composition of claim 1 comprising: (i) an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 25-968 of SEQ ID NO:2, an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 27-790 of SEQ ID NO:4, and an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 23-727 of SEQ ID NO:6, and (ii) an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 25-964 of SEQ ID NO:8, an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 26-848 of SEQ ID NO:10, an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 27-784 of SEQ ID NO:12, and an isolated protein having at least 90% similarity to amino acids 25-742 of SEQ ID NO:14; a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and an adjuvant. 